Nowadays there’s a mobile application for just about everything. Whether you’re counting calories, sharing family photos or looking for new romance (or trying to keep one alive)—even if swallowing swords is your virtual niche—the brave new world of mobile technology has something for everybody.
The same trend describes the world of addiction recovery, where there’s an app for just about every addiction, according to a 2014 article in The Fix. As evidence, how is this for irony? There are now even mobile apps for smartphone addiction.
The glut of smartphone apps targeting addiction and behavior modification can itself be overwhelming to sort through. For those in recovery from substance abuse who are looking for helpful apps to support their journey but don’t have time to sift through all of the options, this very short list can be a life saver:
A-CHESS
http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/pokemon-go-niantic-previews-upcoming-daily-bonuses/647004″ target=”_blank”>A-CHESS is a newer mobile app developed by researchers at the http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/social-media-newsfeed-zynga-focuses-on-mobile-facebook-post-kills-settlement/144919″ target=”_blank”>University of Wisconsin as a continuing relapse prevention support for those in recovery from alcoholism and alcohol use disorders, after they leave treatment.
The app came highly recommended by a leading scientist at the http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/cnbc-com-offers-marijuana-money/53345″ target=”_blank”>National Institute on Drug Abuse, Kathleen Boyle, who in a recent interview with Beach House Center for Recovery praised A-CHESS as an “impressive” example of how innovations in technology are expanding and improving the delivery of substance-abuse care for those who need it.
The app provides extensive recovery support to users, including the following feature that Boyle was quick to highlight: When a patient leaves treatment, they can input their location and other details so that the app will sound a warning when they are near at-risk locations, such as liquor stores or places where they used to drink with friends. And, “If the GPS picks up that they’re going near that place, the phone will call off. It will ask them if they want to have an immediate FaceTime with a counselor.”
That feature is one among many, according to an introductory video to A-CHESS produced by the app’s developer, CHESS Mobile Health. Some of the other bonuses are a panic button, relaxation strategies, motivational reflections and customized reminders of what’s important to users, like pictures of loved ones.
Beach House Center for Recovery, a drug- and alcohol-rehabilitation center in Juno Beach, Fla.
Image at top of post courtesy of Shutterstock.