ARise develops an application that helps people prevent alcohol and substance use and reduce the risk of relapse. Using AR or VR, users experience realistic social situations in which they actively practise refusing temptations. This builds skills and confidence that can also be applied outside the training environment, for example at festivals.

During ESNS 2026, ARise tested whether festival visitors would be willing to use the solution and what is needed to make the experience realistic and effective. In total, 80 people participated: 65 participants completed a survey and 15 took part in interviews.

The initial results show strong support for the concept. Many participants were enthusiastic about the idea and found the method helpful and interesting. At the same time, it became clear that the chosen technology strongly influences how convincing the experience feels.

AR glasses were perceived as more appealing than VR, but outdoor performance was not yet stable enough due to varying light conditions, surfaces, and textures. This also influenced participants’ expectations of the system’s potential impact. VR headsets performed more reliably and currently offer the most consistent experience, even though VR can feel bulkier and less “real-life” compared to AR.

A key outcome was the diversity of participants: from people with extensive experience with substance use to people with no experience at all. This provides valuable input for refining target groups and scenarios. Feedback on characters and situations varied, and further analysis of specific scenarios is still ongoing and will be added later.

The preliminary conclusion is that the ARise concept is strongly received, that VR is currently the most viable route for further development, and that AR technology will likely need several more years of advancement before it can fully deliver on its potential.

In collaboration with
Regieorgaan SIA, ESNS & Breda University of Applied Sciences