Smartphone App Reduces Opioid Use and Enhances Treatment Retention, Study Finds

A new study by UT Health San Antonio has demonstrated that combining medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) with a smartphone app can significantly improve patient outcomes. The app, which integrates contingency management behavioral therapy and peer support, led to a substantial reduction in opioid use and improved retention rates among underserved patients.

Combining Medication With Smartphone-Based Therapy

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, evaluated 600 uninsured or underinsured adults receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)—methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone. Patients who chose to use the WEconnect Health app alongside MOUD reduced their opioid use by 35%, with an average of 8.4 days of opioid use at the end of treatment compared to 12 days for those receiving medication alone.

Retention rates also improved. App users remained in treatment for an average of 290 days, significantly longer than the 236 days observed in the MOUD-only group.

“These findings suggest that augmenting medication for opioid use disorder with app-based contingency management may provide clinical benefits for underserved patients,” said Elise Marino, PhD, director of research operations at UT Health San Antonio’s Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders. “Expanding the availability of app-based contingency management may contribute to decreasing the immense societal, economic, and personal burden of opioid use.”

Addressing Access Barriers Through Technology

Opioid use disorder remains a pressing public health crisis, with a societal cost exceeding $968 billion annually as of 2018, according to the study. While MOUD is considered the gold standard for treatment, some patients continue to struggle with reducing opioid use or remaining in treatment. Behavioral therapies, such as contingency management (CM), can help by providing financial incentives for meeting treatment goals.

Traditionally, CM is delivered in clinics and often requires multiple in-person visits per week. However, logistical barriers—including transportation challenges, childcare needs, and stigma—can hinder participation, especially among underserved populations. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these barriers, prompting the need for remote solutions.

The WEconnect Health app addresses these challenges by delivering CM through a smartphone platform. In addition to providing financial rewards for treatment goals, the app enables users to set daily goals (e.g., attending a Narcotics Anonymous meeting or engaging in physical activity), track their progress, and access 1:1 peer support and online meetings. Unlike traditional CM, which focuses solely on substance-related targets, the app incorporates a recovery-oriented framework that allows patients to pursue personally meaningful goals.

Why It Matters

The study highlights the potential of technology to improve treatment outcomes for OUD, particularly for underserved populations. By reducing logistical barriers and empowering patients to participate in their care on their own schedules, smartphone-based contingency management offers a practical and scalable way to enhance the effectiveness of MOUD.

For healthcare providers, these findings underscore the importance of exploring innovative, hybrid approaches to address the persistent challenges of opioid addiction. As Dr. Marino and her team concluded, “Despite the challenges of engaging patients in other app-based interventions, adding recovery-oriented, app-based CM may be one way to enhance clinical care and meet the growing needs of historically underserved patients taking MOUD.”