How digital technology can contribute to timely and effective recognition and response to opioid overdose events

TL;DR

The paper explores how digital technologies can help detect and respond to opioid overdoses more quickly and effectively.

Contribution

It introduces 11 prototypes under a UK initiative focused on digital tools and public health strategies for overdose response.

Findings

Digital tools like wearables and smartphone apps can aid in early detection of overdoses.

Simple alert systems can enable timely responses to potentially fatal overdose events.

Innovative therapeutics and public health approaches are being developed to reduce overdose deaths.

Abstract

To discuss novel approaches in the development early detection, response and interventions of drug overdoses.

There is an urgent need to research and develop novel strategies to rapidly and accurately detect, respond, and treat them with the ultimate goal of reducing drug deaths secondary to fatal drug overdose incidents. This should be additional to supporting communities and networks able to intervene utilizing novel public health approaches.

We will describe technologies and associated systems that are able to accelerate detection and result in a timely response to potential overdose with effective and timely intervention to these occurrences using digital technologies and therapeutics. This will be contextualised around novel public health approaches.

We will describe 11 protypes as part of a £5 million UK inititiative. The themes will include:
Use of discrete digital technology for easy use by people who use drugs in clinical and non-clinical settingsSimple alert / responder pathways that created effective responses to potentially fatal overdose events
Enhance innovative therapeutics as antidotes to overdose episodesNovel public health approaches

Use of discrete digital technology for easy use by people who use drugs in clinical and non-clinical settings

Simple alert / responder pathways that created effective responses to potentially fatal overdose events

Enhance innovative therapeutics as antidotes to overdose episodes

Novel public health approaches

The use of remote monitoring devices like wearables and smartphone applications, paired with artificial intelligence and innovative therapeutics is an emerging field of research. This needs to be balanced around novel public health approaches.

None Declared