HOME Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail urged all drug treatment and rehabilitation service providers to explore new methods that can improve the effectiveness of recovery, including the use of smartphone applications.

He said these methods can provide recovery support by providing information on tracking sobriety and managing relapse, and connecting users with support groups.

“We should not overlook that our clients have the right to recovery and receive treatment anytime, anywhere. In addition, the use of applications such as tele-counselling, virtual support groups and online forums can be explored,” he said at the 2023 National Drug Addiction Science Symposium Programme today.

His speech was read by Home Ministry deputy secretary-general (Security) Abdul Halim Abd Rahman.

He said the use of wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers can be used to assess and monitor the health status and risk of relapse for drug addicts.

Saifuddin also pointed out that the use of biofeedback devices and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can provide an objective picture of the impact of interventions on clients in terms of their physiological responses and changes.

He encouraged future research in the field of pharma-cogenomics to obtain genetic information and the potential risk of individual involvement in drug use, which would facilitate the creation of appropriate and effective recovery plans.

He said virtual reality (VR) is one of the latest technologies that can provide insights into new mechanisms for drug addiction treatment and recovery.

“Findings from previous research claim that repeated VR simulations can reduce psychophysiological responses to drug craving among respondents,” he added. – Bernama, October 26, 2023.