The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has awarded £12 million to 11 projects using new technology to support people with addictions.
The research is being funded through the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme, which is run by the Office for Life Sciences (OLS).
The projects were selected as part of the Reducing Drug Deaths Challenge and the NIHR i4i Addiction: Innovation for Treatment and Recovery Awards, which are being run in partnership with the Scottish Government and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Minister for Public Health and Prevention Andrew Gwynne said: “Drug addiction devastates lives and rips apart families, and this government is committed to gripping this problem.
“We’re determined to harness the full potential of cutting edge technology to save thousands of lives across the country. I want the UK to lead the way in championing innovation to end the harmful effects of addiction.”
VR and cocaine
One study, led by King’s College London, will look at using virtual reality to help people overcome their triggers for cocaine addiction. People will be assessed using watch-like devices to determine which cues in their environment lead to a drug craving, by measuring physical changes to the body.
Virtual reality will then be used to create realistic situations to repeatedly expose people to triggers in a safe environment. Previous research shows cue exposure treatment (CET) can significantly reduce the level of craving and relapse among alcoholics, but it has not yet been fully explored for people experiencing a cocaine addiction until now.
Another project, PneumoWave ALERT, pairs a chest-worn sensor that monitors breathing to a mobile device that sends out an immediate alert to nearby antidote carriers and emergency services if an overdose is detected, helping people get potentially life-saving treatment as soon as possible.
Several of the projects are based in Scotland, which has the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe.
These include a wristband to monitor vital signs such as blood oxygen levels, heart rate and body temperature. If an overdose is suspected, the device, named Saving Sam, will send out an alert to a trusted contact. This research is being run by the University of Edinburgh and NHS Fife.
Apps and sensors
Other projects include: Scienap, a new alert app for self-monitoring by drug users; the development of wearable sensors for detecting and preventing overdoes; and a phone app to support released prisoners trying to stay drug-free.
DHSC said the technology being researched could be rolled out to more sites across the UK if successful.
The projects support the government’s Health Mission – building an NHS fit for the future – by helping to embed a greater focus on prevention and supporting services.
