FREEDOM 2.0: COMPREHENSIVE ALCOHOL DIGITAL BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE INTERVENTION

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**THE NEED**The NHS estimates that around 9% of men in the UK and 3% of UK women show signs of alcohol dependence1\. COVID-19 has changed the landscape of society, but not the way alcohol abuse destroys the lives of individuals and families.WHO has issued guidance highlighting the issues with alcohol with respect to COVID-19\* Alcohol use, especially heavy use, weakens the immune system and thus reduces the ability to cope with infectious diseases.\* Alcohol increases the risk, frequency and severity of perpetration of interpersonal violence such as domestic violence, child abuse\* Heavy use of alcohol increases the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), one of the most severe complications of COVID-19\.The current societal and economic impact of COVID-19 have exacerbated the dependency on alcohol for some patients with data from research company Kantar confirming Alcohol sales increased _22 per cent_ in March 2020\. Significant proportion of patients with mental health and psychosocial issues also abuse alcohol.**SOLUTION****A fully personalised DBCI Alcohol reduction service.**Our current unique digital programme (FREEDOM 1.0) supports people with 7-steps behavioural change programming to redefine personal life goals and sustain a reduction in the reliance on alcohol. The solution has supported nearly 600 users and enjoys 99% client satisfaction ratings.This programme is based on successful wellness cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), neurolinguistic programming (NLP) coaching programme and 'Sober in Seven' book written by the founder,Andy Smith.Digital behaviour change interventions (DBCIs) offer the potential to increase long term behaviour change and sustained achievement for excessive drinkers receiving an alcohol brief intervention. There is urgent need for a **cost-effective alcohol specific full DBCI solution** that can be easily scaled and with the future use of AI can be developed to provide a more personalised interventionOur project focuses on the development of tailored interventions to be incorporated into the development and deployment of **a fully personalised alcohol DBCI solution** (FREEDOM 2.0). This will be available via all digital platforms (web/smartphone app) and operating systems. We will utilise user feedback and AI/data analytics to increasingly develop a more personalised interventionFREEDOM 2.0 will build on the unique, established and proven existing programme to develop a **cost-effective full DBCI solution** utilising the latest thinking in online support, motivation and coaching approaches. This reflects the NICE guidance and recent trials which suggest cognitive bias retraining, self-monitoring, feedback, and action planning intervention modules enable drinking reduction.