Alcoholic beverages are widely enjoyed by individuals in many countries worldwide, being offered in a variety of places, including restaurants, bars, and grocery stores. In 2019, the Canadian Alcohol and Drugs Survey found that 76% (23.7 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older had consumed alcohol in the last year, with the highest rates (84%) for those between 20 and 24 years. While alcoholic drinks used in moderation present no major risks for adults, in excess, alcohol consumption comes with significant health risks over time. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), alcohol consumption was responsible for 15,000 deaths across Canada in 2014. Alcohol dependence is also associated with high costs to society through healthcare, the criminal justice system, and lost productivity. The CAMH has attributed a sum of $14.6 billion to alcohol-related issues in Canada for 2018. In light of this, treatments for alcohol dependence continue to be actively developed.

Currently, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is among the most effective psychological treatments for alcohol dependence identified by the US-based National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA-NIH). CBT aims to reinforce desirable behaviours and thinking patterns, while working to prevent maladaptive ones. When it comes to individuals treated for alcohol dependence, CBT works by identifying the elements (i.e., feelings and situations) that trigger the desire for alcohol and developing the necessary coping skills to prevent relapse and manage stress, while also changing the thought patterns around alcohol.

Vorvida is an online intervention developed by GAIA AG with the aim of treating alcohol addiction. Vorvida most notably offers a 6-month program based upon CBT techniques for treating substance abuse. Users are also able to consistently track their progress through weekly alcohol and mood checks. A 2019 study investigating the effectiveness of the intervention proposed that Vorvida has the potential for increased user engagement due to the program’s use of tailored content, something often omitted by other online interventions with similar aims. Tailoring of content refers to both the adaptation of the program’s layout to the device used (e.g., tablet or computer), as well as to the adjustment of the program content based on the user’s responses in AI-powered conversational interactions.

The 2019 study tracked the participants’ progress over 6 months, primarily assessing their average daily alcohol intake. The researchers concluded that Vorvida was highly efficacious in lowering daily alcohol intake, but also in greatly decreasing the number of days the participants engaged in binge drinking (i.e., having five or more alcoholic drinks at a time). As a point of comparison for the findings, the authors stated that while other online interventions had been previously linked to an average weekly alcohol intake reduction of 2.5 European units (one unit = 8 grams of ethanol), Vorvida led to a weekly reduction of 7 units in the participants.

While the study shows promising results, limitations must be considered. First, the study was conducted within a sample of German-speaking individuals with problematic alcohol use, most of whom reported being employed. Considering that alcohol dependence also affects lower-functioning individuals (i.e., unemployed), this sample might not be representative of all problem drinkers. Moreover, the study had a considerably high dropout rate for the intervention group, at 37.3%; reasons for abandoning the treatment have not been reported. Potential users may also want to consider the cost of the intervention, made available to the public for $599 (in November 2023).

Overall, a wide array of treatments is currently available for alcohol dependence, including in the form of medication, psychotherapy, or support groups (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous), presenting a range of choices to suit the diverging needs and preferences of those struggling with alcohol dependence. Considering the previously discussed findings, Vorvida appears to be a suitable option for individuals preferring to treat their dependence in an impersonal, confidential, and accessible manner. However, more research is needed to understand the characteristics of the individuals who benefit most from this intervention, as well as under which circumstances users abandon the program.