Digital interventions for alcohol use disorders: A narrative review of opportunities to advance prevention, treatment and recovery

Abstract

With near ubiquitous use and access to digital devices across most settings, there is emerging evidence and growing potential for leveraging these devices to address a wide range of behavioral health challenges, including intervention for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This narrative review aimed to summarize recent evidence on the use of digital interventions for AUD, and to critically assess the promise and pitfalls of these digital approaches, while considering the impact of these interventions on advancing prevention, treatment, and management of AUDs. Specifically, following a database search, a total of 11 empirical studies evaluating the impact of digital interventions for AUD, spanning a range of devices including smartphone apps, online platforms, and wearable devices were identified. Characteristics of the included studies were summarized, and the findings were organized across three broad categories: prevention of AUD, treatment of AUD, and recovery from AUD. These categories were chosen as they best represent the predominant domains of our findings as reflected within the literature. Most of the studies and reviews on digital technology and alcohol use disorder featured the different phases of the disease along this continuum-prevention, treatment, and recovery. Challenges and drawbacks with these digital approaches were considered, such as overcoming barriers to reach vulnerable patient populations, ensuring patient privacy and safety, and sustaining engagement and impact. Despite these limitations, digital interventions in the management of AUD can potentially provide flexibility, ease of access to treatment, improved patient-centered care, a sense of empowerment and autonomy, and encourage compliance with standardized care.