Top Android Apps to Help With Your Addiction Problem
As I write about addiction and mental health for Sunshine Behavioral Health - Colorado division, I have always been curious about apps which possibly could help with your addiction tendencies.
Addiction continues to hound millions of Americans today. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that there are more than 21 million people in the US who are addicted to drugs.
However, not even 10% are receiving treatment. The main reason, of course, is denial. Most drug dependents won’t admit they have a problem. This is why in some cases, an intervention may be necessary if the patient is already on the brink of unwittingly killing themselves in the process.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) meanwhile, is claiming that opioids are now as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than guns. From January 2016 to January 2017 for instance, drug overdose was responsible for more than 64,000 deaths in the US.
Meanwhile, alcohol remains one of the most abused chemical substances in the US. About 14 million adults are dealing with alcohol abuse disorder. That translates to almost half of the total population of the United States.
The beauty of the technology however, is that it provides some assistance tools for people dealing with substance abuse to boost their chances of recovery.
Here are some of the top Android apps to help with your addiction problem:
This is an official app developed by Alcoholics Anonymous, so you know that you are getting the right kind of assistance based upon years of research and practical application.
Those who have been to AA meetings will find this Android app very useful, because they are already familiar with the terminologies, as well as the overarching principle of AA. It’s not a large file, just 11 MB or so, and you can use it even if you are offline. This is very convenient when you are off the grid and can’t find an Internet connection.
The app is user-friendly so even those who are not tech-savvy won’t feel alienated. The steps for use are also simple and straightforward, so they are easy to follow.
Recovery is hard. Oftentimes, the individual can’t help but feel it’s a lonely battle, even if the reality is that there are people surrounding them that will come at a moment’s notice.
This Android app will fill the void. It will provide you with daily inspiration and motivation, especially if you are really feeling despondent. It also comes preset with several languages apart from English, such as French, Japanese, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.
You can open it first thing in the morning and inspirational messages will set the tone for the rest of your day. Of course, this Android app is good for the outpatient drug treatment program, because you can’t bring a phone inside the residential facility. You can also use this when you are in an after-care program.
At just 4.2MB, it won’t take up much space on your phone. So far, this has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.
This Android app is a 90-day digital therapeutic treatment for people suffering from a drug abuse. However, there are certain conditions in order for patients to qualify.
They must not be on opioid replacement therapy.
They must be currently under the watchful eye of a therapist in an outpatient program.
They must not be solely abusing alcohol or drugs.
What the app sets out to do is boost the chance of staying sober by abstaining from using any chemical substance. It will also boost the retention of patients enrolled in the outpatient treatment plan.
It should never be confused with treatment. The app is not designed as a substitute for the outpatient treatment program.
Not everybody can access this app. You also need a prescription code that will be given by your healthcare provider in order to sign in.
How would you like to practice the ancient Indian tradition of yoga? Now you can do it in the comfort of your own home!
The Surya Namaskar Android app provides a step-by-step method on how to do a pose the correct way. Those who went through the holistic drug treatment program would already be familiar with some of them. The app also comes equipped with the sound of a bell to signal when you can come out of each pose.
Most users have remarked that the sound of the bell is very pleasant, and not at all annoying. As an alternative, you can also choose the mantra instead of the bell.
Nobody knows the struggle of seeking treatment and journeying to recovery other than people who went through the same process themselves. This is what this app brings to the table. It was created by partners who wanted to have a good sobriety tracking app that not only looked great but was functional. Theirs has multiple tracking clocks and keeps users connected with the individuals in their support group.
Its key features include:
Sobriety clock that allows you to track the number of years, months, days, hours, and minutes you have been sober.
Sharing feature of this sobriety clock with those who have been with you in your quest to recovery like family, friends, coaches, and partners.
Marks emotional turning points, and you can opt to share your feelings of joy, excitement, fear, or shame. This can be done through the app’s encouragement section, making the recovery process less lonely.
If you’re triggered to use again, there’s an option where you can message your accountability partner to help you through the struggle. Distraction exercises are also available so you can refocus whenever you’re tempted to use again.
- Charles Watson
Pic Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/iphone-smartphone-apps-apple-inc-410324/