Addiction & Recovery 9.14.25 - Flipbook - Page 9
A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Sunday, September 14, 2025 9
hospitalization of the 600,000 nonfatal, unintentional drug overdoses,
and the increase in the last decade of
new psychoactive substances (NPS).
So far, published research about
AI use within addiction recovery
programs has been positive. Various studies indicate that integrating
AI tools into treatment plans significantly improves outcomes. For
example, according to the NIDA,
clinical studies showed a 25-30
percent increase in recovery success rates when AI-led devices were
among those used in treatment. In
addition, some patients realized a
50 percent decrease in cravings and
said they felt more empowered and
able to overcome addiction. Others
saw a reduction of substance abuse
and better coping skills. New Dawn
Addiction Treatment Center experts
believe that “as AI becomes prevalent in this application, it will progress to mainstream and has the potential to lead to lasting sobriety and
better mental health.”
Aguglia says AI has also sparked
creativity for group sessions. Counselors report that having new ideas
has increased patient engagement
and participation. “At the same time,
we emphasize that AI is a support
tool, not a replacement for clinical
judgment, decision-making, or human connection.”
Experts in a recent scientific study
about the use and future of AI in
addiction recovery noted: “Based
on data collected during treatment,
such as an individual’s behavioral patterns and thought patterns,
AI-based predictive analytics can
forecast the risk of relapse with
reasonable accuracy. By identifying
potential triggers and vulnerable periods, AI can alert both patients and
healthcare professionals, enabling
timely interventions, reduced number of lapses, and increased rates of
positive treatment outcomes.”
The study cautioned that “individ-
uals may become over-reliant on AI
chatbots, and ultimately, exacerbate
a user’s isolation and social avoidance.” They recommend proceeding
while answering ethical questions
and privacy concerns.
Aguglia gives some insight on how
Ashley Addiction Treatment sees the
future, saying, “We envision AI con-
Compassionate care
for mental health.
tinuing to ease documentation burdens, providing better insights into
patient progress and recovery trends,
and supporting clinicians with tools
for creativity and education. That allows staff to spend more time building meaningful human connections
with patients, while still benefiting
from the efficiency of technology.”
Life can be challenging at times.
From struggles with anxiety,
depression or substance use, the
experts at the Klein Family Center
can help you feel so much better.
Klein Family Center
802 Baltimore Pike in Bel Air
Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP, 24/7
or visit umuch.org/Klein
Help is available day or night.
