aidsmap news story
At CROI 2026, the use of an app for men with HIV who also use illicit stimulants led to 58% lower odds of having a detectable viral load after six months, when compared to a control group who did not use the app in a fully remote randomised controlled trial.
These results were presented by Professor Adam Carrico of Florida International University, a principal investigator on the Supporting Treatment Adherence for Resilience and Thriving (START) study. Fellow principal investigator Professor Sabina Hirshfield from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, New York City, gave aidsmap.com additional details on the intervention.
“Overall, we find that the START mHealth application achieved clinically meaningful – albeit short term – reductions in viral load,” Carrico said. “There is a need for comprehensive approaches, specifically those that integrate substance use treatment options, like remote contingency management.”
Read the full news story here.View all aidsmap reports from CROI 2026