Government funds VR and AI research to tackle drug deaths

The government has awarded £12 million to projects across the UK investigating technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearable technology and virtual reality (VR), to support people with addictions.

A total of 11 projects from eight organizations have received funding from the Addiction Healthcare Goals program, which is managed by the Office of Life Sciences.

One of the chosen projects, PneumoWave ALERT, combines a chest-worn sensor that monitors breathing with a mobile device that sends an immediate alert to antidote carriers and nearby emergency services if an overdose is detected, helping people receive treatment as soon as possible.

Another study aims to help people overcome their triggers for cocaine addiction by using watch-like devices to gauge which cues in their environment trigger drug cravings and then using virtual reality to create situations realistic to repeatedly expose people to triggers in a safe environment.

Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes, chair of Addiction Healthcare Goals, said: “New approaches are urgently needed to treat drug addiction and reduce drug-related deaths, particularly from overdose.

“The Addiction Healthcare Goals program is pleased to fund promising innovations that have brought together partnerships between industry, academia and organizations involved in providing treatment and care for those suffering from drug addictions.”

The projects were selected as part of the Scottish Government’s Reducing Drug Deaths Challenge and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) i4i Addiction: Innovation for Treatment and Recovery Awards.

Several of the projects are based in Scotland, which has the highest drug-related death rate in Europe.

These include research by the University of Edinburgh and NHS Fife which uses a wristband called ‘Saving Sam’ to monitor vital signs such as blood oxygen levels, heart rate and body temperature and send an alert to a contact confidence if an overdose is suspected. .

Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser on Health, said: “Tackling drug-related deaths is a priority for the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland and we are committed to tackling these issues through research, innovation and specific support.

“As part of the second phase of the Drug Death Reduction Innovation Competition, funding has been awarded to develop seven prototypes aimed at reducing drug deaths.

“These innovative solutions include wearable sensors, digital monitoring and alerting applications, as well as new antidote delivery systems.”

The technologies being researched could be rolled out to more sites in the UK if successful.

Professor Mike Lewis, Scientific Director of Innovation at NIHR, said: “Innovation in addiction management is needed to break the pattern of relapse and rebound in prison and the wider impacts of addiction on society

“Interventions, including AI, that enable management in the community need this research to validate their potential so we can implement them at scale.”

Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said: “Drug addiction devastates lives and tears apart families, and this Government is committed to tackling this problem.

“We are determined to harness the full potential of cutting-edge technology to save thousands of lives across the country.”