New research indicates that mobile-health interventions, delivered via text or app, show potential for reducing harm from alcohol and cannabis use among young adults.
Young adults, being digital natives, are receptive to interventions delivered through their smartphones. These interventions can gather real-time data through daily or "ecological momentary assessments" (EMA) to support behavior change and addiction prevention.
Anne M. Fairlie, a research associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, highlighted that EMA data can be used creatively in various interventions. She co-authored two of the three studies and an editorial summarizing the research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Three studies illustrate these applications:
- Targeting ADHD and Drinking: Traci M. Kennedy and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh studied a mobile-health intervention for young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at high risk for heavy drinking. Participants received smartphone check-ins to identify patterns in ADHD symptoms and drinking, receiving tailored feedback to reduce alcohol intake.
- Web-Based and Text Messaging: Melissa A. Lewis of the University of Texas at Arlington led research on a web-based intervention, followed by text messages delivered three times weekly for eight weeks, for young adults at risk for alcohol and cannabis use. The study demonstrated that understanding motivations and barriers helps tailor messages about "protective behavioral strategies" to reduce harm.
- Craving and Trigger Recognition: Fairlie and colleagues examined EMA to gather real-time data from young adults experiencing alcohol cravings in response to various cues. Participants completed daily surveys for 17 days before receiving a personalized feedback intervention based on their aggregated data, designed to help them recognize triggers.
A key theme across these studies was the importance of tailoring interventions, despite each using a distinct approach. Fairlie noted that EMA is a flexible tool that allows for adaptability across different research contexts.
Fairlie concluded that there are various methods to translate daily and EMA data into personalized intervention content, which is crucial for advancing innovation while maintaining strong methodology. Future research is expected to yield more novel and creative digital interventions tailored for at-risk young adult groups.