Brezing, Christina A and Levin, Frances R (2022) Applications of technology in the assessment and treatment of cannabis use disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 1035345. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1035345.
External website: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt...
Cannabis use and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) have been increasing. There are no FDA approved medications and evidence-based psychotherapy is limited by insufficient providers, serving very few patients effectively. The lack of resources for prevention and treatment of CUD has resulted in a significant gap between the need for services and access to treatment. The creation of a scalable system to prevent, screen, refer and provide treatment for a chronic, relapsing diagnosis like CUD could be achieved through the application of technology.
Many studies have utilized ecological momentary assessments (EMA) in treatment seeking and non-treatment seeking cannabis users. EMA allows for repeated, intensive, longitudinal data collection . EMA has been studied in cannabis use and its association with affect, craving, withdrawal, other substances, impulsivity, and interpersonal behaviors. EMA has the potential to serve as a valuable monitoring tool in prevention, screening, and treatment for CUD. Research has also focused on the development of internet and application-based treatments for CUD, including a currently available prescription digital therapeutic. Treatment options have expanded to more broadly incorporate telehealth as an option for CUD treatment with broad acceptance and change in regulation following the COVID-19 pandemic. While technology has limitations, including cost, privacy concerns, and issues with engagement, it will be a necessary medium to meet societal health needs as a consequence of an ever-changing cannabis regulatory landscape. Future work should focus on improving existing platforms while ethically incorporating other functions (e.g., sensors) to optimize a public and clinical health approach to CUD.
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder (addiction) > Drug use disorder
HA Screening, identification, and diagnostic method > Physical / medical screening, assessment and diagnostic method
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Identification and screening > Identification and screening for substance use
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Treatment and maintenance > Treatment factors
N Communication, information and education > Telehealth / Telemedicine / mHealth / eHealth
N Communication, information and education > Digital technology
VA Geographic area > International
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