Wearable and Wireless mHealth Technologies for Substance Use Disorder

The goal of this scoping review is to evaluate the advances in wearable and other wireless mobile health (mHealth) technologies in the treatment of substance use disorders.

There are a variety of wireless technologies under investigation for the treatment of substance use disorder. Wearable sensors are the most commonly used technology. They can be used to decrease heavy substance use, mitigate factors related to relapse, and monitor for overdose. New technologies pose distinct advantages over traditional therapies by increasing geographic availability and continuously providing feedback and monitoring while remaining relatively non-invasive.

Wearable and novel technologies are important to the evolving landscape of substance use treatment. As technologies continue to develop and show efficacy, they should be incorporated into multifactorial treatment plans.