For any advancement in any field these days we look to technology to help us. And at present, there are few crises bigger than the one we face with addiction at present.
Around the world there’s an ongoing opioid problem, with more people entering heroin rehab than ever before, while the likes of alcohol abuse is also at an all-time high, with 5% of the world’s deaths due to the substance.
Over the last few years it’s become clear that technology can be a useful tool in aiding addicts who are wanting to get their lives back on track, and research from Harvard Medical School has found that around one in 10 adults who are in recovery from substance abuse have managed to get there through utilising online technology.
That number feels relatively small, and it is hoped that as more people see the value of it, then it will only go to help more people fight addiction in an efficient and effective manner.
The first part technology plays in assisting addiction is that it better allows people to acknowledge they do have a problem. The accessibility of help online and the wide range of information available is aiding people to recognize on their own terms that they have a problem, and find access to treatment much more easily.
There are fewer hurdles to receiving a consultation and that just comes through the basic element of using the internet.
However, technology is starting to play its part more in addiction treatment too. Addiction management platforms are being developed and rolled out, with app-based systems allowing patients to check in and be assisted right throughout the rehab and recovery process, all available by just the tap of a smartphone.
It’s a huge step forward and particularly with the cost of rehab, can be a real game changer for those who can’t necessarily afford to go to a private residential clinic for weeks at a time.
Aftercare is also benefiting from technology due to the ability to log in via apps and get the tools they need. What’s more, aftercare treatment and program guidance can also be found, with trials proving that those that are using such tools are enjoying a higher rate of abstinence compared to those that don’t.
We’ll likely see more of these apps arrive over the coming years, both in conjunction with rehab centres and even online-only platforms to help people through difficult times. It’s certainly needed. With more people suffering than ever before, getting the help required needs to be as accessible as possible, and that will undoubtedly come through technology.
