Using Technology in the Field of Substance Use

This special news article is focused on all things digital - exploring e-health, d-health, m-health and u-health. We wanted to shine a light on the ways technology is being used in substance use prevention, treatment and recovery. 

So what is e-health? When we talk about e-health we are exploring the opportunities in public health and health services for information and treatment to be enhanced by the use of the internet and other technologies. This might be through the use of applications on smartphones or it could be through the use of AI in the management of health records.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 58% of member states have an e-health strategy. The use of technology is widely accepted to improve access to information and treatment. We have collected a series of examples of ways in which technology is being used to in the field of substance use, prevention and treatment.

Definitions

E-health and d-health (digital health) have become a bit of a catch all term for the implementation of m-health or u-helath innovations too. So what are we talking about when we use each term? 

M-health is used when referring to health solutions delivered through mobile devices like smartphones, smartwatches and tablets. M-health innovations are seen as having the advantage of featuring on technology people are already comfortable and familiar with using and an item that many people will keep with them or check frequently.

U-health refers to things like sensor technology which can be used to monitor someones condition or health in realtime. Examples of this might be sensors used to monitor a diabetic person's glucose levels. One example of u-helath being used in the substance use field would be the 2016 study where ECG monitoring was implemented to pinpoint when people might be most likely to relapse on cocaine after treatment. 

There are examples of mobile phone applications being used to help people who are in the process of giving up tobacco, to asset people attempting to cut down or abstain from alcohol consumption and to engage in opioid treatment programmes. 

A further term which might be used when talking about e-health solutions is serious gaming. This is a term given to the use of games in reaching health outcomes or behaviour change. 

Virtual reality is also a new and exciting area where the opportunities for life coaching and CBT are currently being explored. One study has successfully utilised a virtual reality game to help those in recovery from alcohol and tobacco. 

As technology advances at an ever growing speed the potential for e-health solutions to tackle real world issues in the field of substance use, prevention and treatment is growing. 

Some of the following examples of research featured in our Knowledge Share section might be of interest: 

• e-Addictology: An Overview of New Technologies for Assessing and Intervening in Addictive Behaviors

• Adapting, Pilot Testing and Evaluating the Kick.it App to Support Smoking Cessation for Smokers with Severe Mental Illness

• Implementing a Mobile Health System to Integrate the Treatment of Addiction into Primary Care

• A Mobile Phone-Based Life Skills Training Program for Substance Use Prevention Among Adolescents

• Development of a Smartphone App-Based Messaging Intervention to Encourage HIV Self-Testing in Hefei, China

• Sideal Spanish Language Mobile Phone App for Alcohol Use

• #StatusofMind: Social Media and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing