A digital chatbot could be one way to help individuals with substance abuse disorder, according to a new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 

The study, which was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, found that individuals with SUD using the chatbot Woebot significantly reduced their substance use occasions more than individuals on the waitlist, who did not receive the intervention.  The bulk of participants in the test group also said that they would recommend the intervention.

It is important to note that four of the study’s authors are Woebot Health employees. 

TOP LINE DATA

Researchers found that participants using the chatbot decreased their substance use occasions by a mean of 9.1. Meanwhile participants in the waitlist had an estimated marginal mean reduction of 3.3 occasions. Researchers did note that participants in the control group had a significantly higher CAGE-AI and DAST-10, which are used to test for alcohol and drug use respectively, score than those in the study group.  

Eighty-eight percent of participants in the study group said they would recommend the chatbot intervention. Researchers also evaluated mood changes but didn’t find any major changes between groups. 

“Secondary substance use and mood outcomes did not change significantly by group; however, reductions in substance use occasions correlated significantly with increased confidence and fewer substance use problems, cravings, depression and anxiety symptoms, and pandemic-related mental health effects (p-value<.05),” authors of the study wrote. 

HOW IT WAS DONE

The randomized controlled study was conducted over 8 weeks. The study included 180 adults who screened positive for substance misuse between June and August 2020. Researchers reported that study retention was 84%. Substance use occasions were the primary outcome evaluated. Researchers used general linear models to test group differences. 

Researchers also asked questions related to how the study population was impacted by COVID-19. Twenty-nine percent of the sample population identified as essential service workers and 56% reported a pandemic-related employment disruption. The bulk of participants reported that the pandemic or its related effets had a moderate-to-severe negative effect on their mental or emotional health (64%). 

Seventy-seven percent of participants said that alcohol was their problematic substance, 28% said that cannabis was their main substance and 12% said stimulants.

THE BACKGROUND

This isn’t the first time that Woebot has been studied for helping substance abuse disorder. In March, a JMIR study showed that participants reported reduced cravings and increased confidence in their ability to resist urges. 

Woebot has been used to treat other mental health issues as well. In May, Woebot landed an FDA breakthrough designation to tackle postpartum depression. 

Woebot isn’t the only company looking to treat substance use disorder through digital means. In July, Quit Genius, a digital treatment for alcohol, tobacco and opioid addictions, scored $64 million in Series B funding. Additionally, Monument, an online platform focused on addressing alcohol use disorder, closed a $10.3 million Series A funding round.