June 2025 Journal Club – Digital Interventions for Alcohol Use Disorder: Exploring What Works and Why

Even with therapies and medication, we have a long way to go in helping people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) to cut back or quit. There is an early but growing body of evidence1,2 suggesting that “digital interventions” may be helpful in this regard. Before widespread smartphone access, most were text message-based interventions, but smartphone apps open the possibility for more varied and interactive formats, while holding the potential to reach people that traditional treatment does not. However, knowledge of what makes such tools effective is still in its infancy, I.e., Is it helpful simply to track one’s use? What are the features of effective messages? How does it work among people who binge drink versus those with dependence?