The UK government is funding research into wearable technology, virtual reality and artificial intelligence (AI) to support people with drug addictions.

It believes thousands of lives could be saved through the use of AI and wearable technology designed to reduce drug deaths and improve outcomes.

The government has awarded £12m to projects across the UK that are researching technology to support people with addictions. One of the projects, called PneumoWave Alert, pairs a chest-worn sensor that monitors breathing to a mobile device that sends out an immediate alert to nearby antidote carriers and emergency services if an overdose is detected, helping people get potentially life-saving treatment as soon as possible.

Another study will look at using virtual reality to help people overcome their triggers for cocaine addiction. People will be assessed using watch-like devices to determine which cues in their environment lead to a drug craving, by measuring physical changes to the body. Virtual reality will then be used to create realistic situations to expose people repeatedly to triggers in a safe environment. Previous research shows cue exposure treatment (CET) can significantly reduce the level of craving and relapse among alcoholics, but it has not yet been fully explored for people experiencing a cocaine addiction.

“Drug addiction devastates lives and rips apart families, and this government is committed to gripping this problem,” said Andrew Gwynne, minister for public health and prevention. “We’re determined to harness the full potential of cutting-edge technology to save thousands of lives across the country. I want the UK to lead the way in championing innovation to end the harmful effects of addiction.”

The research is being funded through the Addiction Healthcare Goals programme, which is run by the Office for Life Sciences (OLS). Around £12m has been awarded to 11 projects across eight organisations in the UK. The projects are being run in partnership with the Scottish government and the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR). Several of the projects are based in Scotland, which has the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe.

Projects include a wristband to monitor vital signs such as blood oxygen levels, heart rate and body temperature. If an overdose is suspected, the device, named Saving Sam, will send out an alert to a trusted contact. This research is being run by the University of Edinburgh and NHS Fife. The technology being researched could be rolled out to more sites across the UK if successful.

“The UK’s life sciences sector plays a critical role in finding new ways to tackle the biggest challenges facing healthcare, including the devastating impact of addiction,” said science minister Lord Vallance. “From wearable technology to AI-powered tools, these innovative projects highlight the power of collaboration in delivering life-saving treatments. By investing in these partnerships, we are tackling addiction head on and ensuring that cutting-edge science reaches those who need it most, improving public health across the UK.”

For a list of projects that will receive funding, see the NIHR web site (www.nihr.ac.uk/news/nihr-and-ols-fund-innovative-research-help-tackle-drug-deaths) and the Scottish government chief scientist office web site (www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/cso-reducing-drug-deaths-innovation-challenge-phase-2-announced).

PneumoWave Alert is a remote-monitoring platform to make opioid usage safer by detecting the onset of life-threatening respiratory problems caused by opioid-induced overdose. The platform consists of a discreet, chest-worn biosensor paired with a mobile device, which allows for the immediate alerting of nearby naloxone carriers and emergency medical services. The research involves conducting end-to-end monitoring, detection and alerting in 200 high-risk patients residing in homeless accommodation, in collaboration with the University of Dundee, King’s College London and third sector partners HumanKind, Thames Reach and Hillcrest Futures.

NOMW Health, in collaboration with Greater Glasgow & Clyde Innovation Hub and the University of Southampton, previously conducted a feasibility study on LifeSavr, a wearable device aimed at addressing the opioid overdose crisis. The Scotland-based team is now advancing the development of LifeSavr to prepare it for consumer availability in the UK, Europe and globally. LifeSavr features the monitoring of oxygen saturation, heart rate, body movements and respiratory rate for accurate overdose detection. It is based on Nasa research and uses a self-contained design that eliminates the need for a mobile phone. The device aims to reduce the burden on emergency services and long-term care.

Saving Sam is a low-cost digital tool developed by eMoodie to help prevent drug overdoses and save lives. The tool consists of a wristband that monitors vital signs such as blood oxygen levels, heart rate, body temperature and movement patterns to detect potential overdose risks. If an overdose is suspected, the wristband sends an alert to the Saving Sam app on the user’s smartphone, alerting a trusted contact.

Science & Engineering Applications (Scienap), in collaboration with ambulance services led by the Scottish Ambulance Service, has designed a low-cost alert and responder pathway to create effective responses to potentially fatal overdose events. The project includes an app for self-monitoring by drug users, automatically raising an alarm if they become unresponsive and a care-and-respond app for trusted supporters to provide co-ordinated help, administer life-saving drugs and be supported by emergency services when appropriate.

The University of Glasgow’s soft sensor, designed for seamless body integration, provides real-time respiratory monitoring to identify early signs of overdose episodes. The team will test the usability and acceptability of the refined prototype with people with lived or living experience of substance use through an iterative co-design process supported by the West of Scotland NHS Innovation Hub.