Smartphones can’t solve every problem, but it turns out that they can be a helpful part of many solutions, including opioid abuse treatment.
While the COVID pandemic continues to dominate the media’s attention, the opioid abuse epidemic continues to be a major problem in the U.S. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 10 million people abused prescription opioids in 2019, resulting in more than 70,000 drug overdose deaths. Groups Recover Together is an organization that supports opioid addiction recovery for more than 11,000 patients. They developed a companion app that their members can access with a smartphone for information, support, and managing their treatment program. A limited trial last year was so successful that they are now rolling it out across the entire program. They report positive results, with 73% of participants sticking with treatment after six months, and 89% abstaining from illicit substances each week. Tools such as this app can play an important role in helping patients deal with their drug abuse problems.