Smartphone-paired Breathalyzers and Loss- and Gain-framed Texts for Reducing Drinking and Driving

Pilot Trial Leveraging Smartphone-paired Breathalyzers and Loss- and Gain-framed Text Notifications for Reducing Drinking Driving

This project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a scalable behavioral intervention using smartphone-paired breathalyzers and text message aimed at reducing drinking and driving among individuals who report heavy drinking. All participants receive a smartphone breathalyzer to provide feedback on their estimated blood alcohol level. The intervention compares loss- and gain-framed messages that make the consequences of drinking and driving more salient to standard messages not to drink and drive.

The overall objective of this project is to leverage smartphone-paired breathalyzers to implement cost-effective and scalable behavioral interventions to reduce risky drinking behaviors such as drinking and driving. Prospect theory proposes that messages framed in different ways can elicit different responses from individuals. Loss aversion refers to people's tendency to prefer avoiding losses to acquiring equivalent gains: it's better to not lose $5 than to find $5. People are more motivated to avoid losing something than they are to win something. Studies have found that delivering messaging framed as a loss are also effective in motivating certain behaviors. On the other hand, gain-framed messages have been shown to have a positive effect on preventative healthcare. By using automated remote monitoring, innovative loss aversion and gain-framed messaging strategies incorporating insights from behavioral economics could be more easily implemented by delivering effective messaging prior to a risky behavior taking place. The investigators hope that the use of loss aversive and/or gain-framed messaging will lead to individuals improving planning behavior around drinking, especially in regards to drinking and driving. The objective of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a scalable intervention using loss- gain-framed messaging to reduce drinking and driving, compare the effectiveness of each type of messaging, and to increase the use of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) monitors as a way to plan safer strategies when drinking. The investigators' long-term objective is to secure federal funding for research that leverages insights from behavioral economics supported by smartphone technology to reduce risky drinking.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the ages of 21-39
• Reports an average of one heavy drinking day (men more than five drinks, women more than four drinks) per week over the preceding 8 weeks
• Has a valid photo identification (ID)
• Are willing and able to use an Uber or Lyft or septa as transportation home
• Drives four or more trips per week
• Owns an Apple iPhone or Android smartphone

Exclusion Criteria:

• Desire for alcohol treatment now or have received alcohol treatment within the past 6 months
• Alcohol use disorder rated as severe per DSM-V criteria
• Non-English-speaking
• Women who are pregnant
• Individuals who should not consume alcohol due to a medical condition such as liver disease, cancer, and seizure disorders. Participants will be asked to answer yes if they have any disorder that their doctor has suggested that they should not drink alcohol. If they are unsure or say I don't know the investigators will ask them to speak with their doctor prior to participation.