Guardian Angel is one of many grants awarded in 2008 to various educational organizations from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop games for health. The proposed effort of Guardian Angel seeks to leverage game-based technologies to develop an effective, motivating practice environment for one treatment that relies heavily on the acquisition and maintenance of a new set of cognitive skills: relapse prevention. The RP model is a cognitive-behavioral model that asserts that relapse to substance use can be prevented through a set of skills that allow the patient to recognize, and cope with, situations that are likely to initiate a relapse (Larimer, Palmer, & Marlatt, 1999). We will use the theory of RP to build a suite of small games, each targeted to reinforce a required competency indicated from the theoretical model underlying the treatment. Our targeted population will be individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD) currently receiving treatment in a Veteran’s Administration Medical Center(VAMC). Clinical studies using Guardian Angel have been conducted and data is currently being complied.

• Video Games Used to Fight Alcohol Addition segment aired on WCIV ABC Local News 4 in Charleston, SC May 2010.
• Video Game Helps Alchoholics Prevent Relapse published in the Orlando Sentinel April 22, 2010.
• “Guardian Angel”  game helps rehabilitate alcoholics from whattheyplay.com