January 20, 2009
Technology Improves Substance Abuse Treatment
The January 2009 issue of Drug and Alcohol Review Journal is dedicated to exploring the use of technologies to broaden the base of treatment for substance use problems. The opening editorial describes using the various technologies to facilitate treatment strategies and ‘overcome the tyranny of distance and other barriers to maximizing the reach of intervention.' Another motivation for exploring these innovations 'is the recognition of the need to develop approaches which engage young people more effectively.'
The issue explores some of the dynamics of interactions via the Internet that differ in important ways from those operating in the traditional face-to-face paradigm, some of which have the potential to improve the quality of service delivery and research. The editorial introduction also points out that 'less is known about the newer wireless technologies, but one would expect there to be important differences in these too. Generally, the purpose of applying new technology is not to replace an existing approach but to supplement, enhance or extend the reach of interventions to improve patient and population health outcomes.'
Other papers in the series highlight a computerized system to support a treatment approach known as ‘contingency management’ which rewards users for maintaining abstinence, exploration of mobile phones for collecting data about adolescent alcohol use and related mood, stress and coping behaviors, development of a Web-based alcohol intervention for university students, web based screening and much more.
This issue covers a number of topics including: alcohol use and abuse, smoking cessation, drug counselling, prescription drug misuse, and couples therapy.
Exploring the role technology has in research on drug and alcohol related problems is an interesting compilation that will stimulate discussion and further research.
The Drug and Alcohol Review
Available Online