Digital therapeutics has become the new buzzword in health care these days. These are apps that work on a patients behavior and provide remote monitoring to improve long-term health outcomes. The rise of such medical applications has proven a blessing for both clinicians and patients by reducing the gap between them.

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FDA Approves the First-Ever Medical Mobile App to Treat SUDs
Digital therapeutics has become the new buzzword in health care these days. These are apps
that work on a patients’ behavior and provide remote monitoring to improve long-term
health outcomes. The rise of such medical applications has proven a blessing for both
clinicians and patients by reducing the gap between them. Moreover, such apps assist in
keeping a tab on one’s health and medication and deliver services within the comforts of
one’s home.
On the same lines, individuals undergoing treatment for a substance abuse disorder (SUD)
can now use their phones to achieve sobriety. In a landmark move, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), approved the marketing of the first-ever therapeutic mobile app on
Sep. 14 2017, to be used in the treatment of SUDs.
The reset® mobile app,
developed by Pear
Therapeutics, was given
the green light to help
patients undergoing
outpatient treatment
for addiction to
marijuana, alcohol,
cocaine or stimulants.
Though the app covers
a range of addictions, it
is not intended for
treating opioid use
disorder (OUD), as
mentioned in a press
release by FDA.
CBT at the touch of a button
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), SUD
occurs when an individual’s recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes significant clinical
and functional impairments, such as health problems, disability, and failure to meet major
responsibilities at work, school or home.
The reset® mobile app offers the benefit of learning practical skills required for abstaining
from substances by providing talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in a digital
format. In addition, the services of reset® mobile app can also be availed and accessed online
via a desktop computer. The easy access to CBT, which is evidently an effective treatment for
SUDs, will ensure effective recovery through constant check on the adherence of the
treatment.

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According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “CBT focuses on exploring
relationships among a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.” It helps in unearthing
unhealthy patterns of thoughts that lead to the development of self-destructive behaviors
and notions. The CBT addresses such changes by identifying the wrong beliefs and testing or
restructuring them.
Like CBT, the reset® mobile app provides a series of reward-based incentives to users who
succeed in refraining from substances and sticking to treatment. However, the app cannot
replace treatment and has not been approved for that. It is to act as a complementary
intervention to supplement treatment in outpatient settings. The key goals of this app are to
increase abstinence from substances and increase retention in outpatient programs.
To verify the efficacy of the therapeutic mobile app, the FDA reviewed the results of a 12-
week clinical trial. The participants included patients with SUD and other chronic illnesses,
such as cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal problems, depression, mania, suicidal
behavior, etc. The study involved 399 participants who either received the standard
treatment or standard treatment with the desktop-based version of the reset® app.
Approximately 40.3 percent of the participants who received app-based treatment managed
to abstain from alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and stimulants. On the contrary, the rate of
abstinence was only 17.6 percent among those who received only the standard treatment.
Interestingly, the study findings did not allude to any side-effects associated with the device.
The reset® app and the device are intended to be used as a prescription-only adjunct
treatment for patients with SUD who are currently not on any opioid replacement therapy,
who do not abuse alcohol or whose primary substance of abuse is not opioids.
Prevent drugs from rewiring the brain
Addictive substances have the capability to “hijack” the brain due to their unique
psychotropic effects. When the brain is exposed to such substances like alcohol, drugs,
cocaine, etc., it undergoes changes in such a way that substance use becomes the main
priority. When people develop an addiction, it wreaks havoc in their lives.
The first step in kicking an addiction is to undergo detox. This helps rid the body of the harmful
substance. Sovereign Detox Services understands the plight of someone who is unable to
discontinue the use of harmful substances despite the negative impact on his or her life. Our
customized rapid detox centers in California are tailored according to each individual’s
specific needs to treat him or her holistically. Call at our 24/7 helpline 855-682-0103 to know
more about the detox facilities in Florida or at a place closer to home.