This program is for adults and adolescents with alcohol use disorders.

Addiction-Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (A-CHESS), a smartphone application, is designed to prevent a return to heavy drinking among patients who have completed residential treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD).

A number of evaluations of A-CHESS have been conducted among different populations. One randomized trial was completed in which participants, who were primarily White males, were assigned to either treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU + A-CHESS. Data were collected for 8 months of the intervention and during 4 months of follow-up, and results indicated that those in the A-CHESS + TAU group reported significantly fewer risky drinking days in the past 30 days at months 4 and 12 and a higher likelihood of consistent abstinence than those in the control group. Results from one quasi-experimental study among women who were assigned to intensive outpatient treatment indicated that use of A-CHESS increased length of stay and treatment service use relative to a comparison group who did not have access to A-CHESS. Results from one quasi-experimental study among youth were less conclusive and demonstrated no differences in abstinence at discharge from residential treatment or completion of treatment between those who used A-CHESS and those who did not. Results from a single-group, pretest/posttest study of an adapted version of A-CHESS for Spanish-speaking Latinos (CASA-CHESS) indicated that those who continued using CASA-CHESS in the 6 months following completion of residential treatment maintained low baseline rates of substance use. Additionally, participants who discontinued use of CASA-CHESS within the first 4 months after leaving treatment had higher rates of substance use than those who used the program for 4 or more months.

A-CHESS is based on Self-Determination Theory and cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention. Self-Determination Theory states that adaptive functioning is supported by meeting the following three basic needs:

• Perceived competence;
• Feeling connected to others; and
• Feeling internally motivated.

Drawing on these tenets, the A-CHESS application was designed to be an interactive program that provides continuing care to participants to help them build and maintain motivation to remain abstinent. The program guides participants toward resources that can help them deal with cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and risky situations; provides opportunities to give and receive social support; and helps participants build and sustain self-guided motivation in order to avoid relapse. Program components include the following:

• Recovery information and tutorials;
• Adherence strategies;
• Decision-making tools; and
• Support services.

A-CHESS was created by the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies. The extent to which the program has been used was not located.

A-CHESS is a self-administered program, and training is not required.

Considerations for implementing this program include acquiring participant buy-in and ensuring participants have access to a smartphone and the internet.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing A-CHESS, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you! Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu

Implementation time will vary for each person.

Information on implementation costs was not located.

To move A-CHESS to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program. Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact the Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 46 Centerra Parkway, EverGreen Center, Suite 315, Lebanon, NH 03766, phone 1-603-646-7000, email info@c4tbh.org, or visit https://www.c4tbh.org/contact-us/

https://chess.wisc.edu/achess-archive/Home/MainMenu-Overview.aspx? and https://www.c4tbh.org/program-review/addiction-comprehensive-health-enhancement-support-system-a-chess/