Trial results for “The Getting Off App” study, targeting methamphetamine use in gay and bisexual men with HIV/AIDS, were posted on 2026-01-29. The immediate delivery group reported a mean of 8.8 days of methamphetamine use, compared to 15.3 days in the delayed delivery group.
Background
Methamphetamine abuse presents significant health challenges, particularly within populations also managing HIV/AIDS. For gay and bisexual men, addressing methamphetamine use is crucial not only for overall well-being but also for mitigating risky sexual behaviors and improving adherence to HIV treatment regimens. Traditional outpatient interventions, such as the “Getting Off” program, have been utilized to support individuals in reducing methamphetamine use. The translation of such programs into mobile phone applications offers a potentially accessible and discreet method for delivering support, games, guided lessons, and informational resources directly to individuals seeking to reduce their methamphetamine use and associated risky behaviors.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 226 participants to investigate conditions including Methamphetamine Abuse and HIV/AIDS. The trial evaluated a mobile phone application, “The Getting Off App,” which translates a manualized outpatient methamphetamine intervention into a digital format. The study design involved two delivery arms: an Immediate Delivery (ID) group, which received immediate access to the app, and a Delayed Delivery (DD) group.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to methamphetamine use and injection:
- Methamphetamine Use (measured in days):
- Immediate Delivery (ID) group: mean of 13.6 days (Standard Deviation 11.3)
- Delayed Delivery (DD) group: mean of 15.3 days (Standard Deviation 11.2)
- Immediate Delivery (ID) group: mean of 10.9 days (Standard Deviation 10.3)
- Delayed Delivery (DD) group: mean of 14.5 days (Standard Deviation 11.8)
- Delayed Delivery (DD) group: mean of 14.4 days (Standard Deviation 10.7)
- Immediate Delivery (ID) group: mean of 9.4 days (Standard Deviation 10.0)
- Delayed Delivery (DD) group: mean of 13.4 days (Standard Deviation 11.6)
- Immediate Delivery (ID) group: mean of 10.2 days (Standard Deviation 10.7)
- Delayed Delivery (DD) group: mean of 13.2 days (Standard Deviation 11.6)
- Immediate Delivery (ID) group: mean of 8.8 days (Standard Deviation 9.6)
- Delayed Delivery (DD) group: mean of 11.7 days (Standard Deviation 11.5)
- Methamphetamine Injection (measured in days):
- Immediate Delivery (ID) group: mean of 2.2 days (Standard Deviation 5.5)
What this means
The posted results suggest that “The Getting Off App” may be a promising tool for reducing methamphetamine use among gay and bisexual men, including those living with HIV/AIDS. The consistently lower mean days of methamphetamine use observed in the Immediate Delivery group compared to the Delayed Delivery group indicates a potential benefit of early access to the app-based intervention. While these descriptive measurements provide valuable insights into the app's potential impact, further analysis would be needed to determine statistical significance and long-term efficacy. This intervention could offer a scalable and accessible option for individuals seeking support in managing methamphetamine use.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03884946, titled “The Getting Off App for Methamphetamine-Using Gay and Bisexual Men”, were posted on 2026-01-29 on clinicaltrials.gov.