Author: Vishwam Sankaran / Source: The Next Web
According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), one of the biggest problems faced by people recovering from drug addiction is in forming supportive relationships that keep them away from triggers causing relapse.
Hey,Charlie, a new smartphone app for behavioral modification developed by Emily Lindemer, a PhD graduate from MIT, helps those recovering from substance use by keeping you on track with text alerts sent during vulnerable moments.
The social circles of urban drug users usually consist of a mix of people who use substances, and people who don’t. The app encourages users to slowly distance from people with risky drug habits.
When you download the app, it asks questions about a few contacts like, “How often does this person express doubt about your ability to continue your recovery process?” With such questions, the app helps you realize if someone has a negative influence on your recovery.
Lindemer told MIT that the questions asked by the app were objective, neither stigmatizing nor incriminating anyone. “We try to figure out things like, is this a person that even knows that you are struggling with substance abuse disorder? Is this a person who contributes to stress levels in your life? Or is this the type of person who encourages your sobriety?” she said.
If you are a drug user and you login for the first time, the app asks you to mark risk-prone locations such as the places where you purchase drugs, or the places where your…
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