One of the largest populations to visit hospital Emergency Departments are young adults 18 to 24 years of age and more than one third of them report alcohol abuse or dependence.  That is why the department of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh is using and testing mobile technology to reach out and connect. What better way to follow-up with young adults who might need drug or alcohol dependence treatment than to text them — meeting them where they are?

“Clinicians who care for young adults and adolescents in other care settings may [also] decide to use mobile technologies to support and extend already existing resources to reduce the burden of alcohol use and alcohol-related risks,” said Suffoletto. “Researchers interested in behavior change [for other] substance-use disorders may decide to build and test similar behavioral interventions using mobile communication devices, such as apps, to affect change.”