Research Articles

Digital Therapeutics and AI-Assisted Monitoring for Relapse Prevention in Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Relapse remains a defining challenge in the long-term management of substance use disorders, underscoring the need for approaches that move beyond episodic treatment and retrospective assessment. Our review examines the emerging role of digital therapeutics and artificial intelligence–assisted monitoring as tools for advancing relapse prevention strategies. Drawing on evidence published between 2010 and 2025, the review synthesizes findings across a broad range of study designs, substances, and technological platforms to evaluate how digitally delivered interventions and predictive analytics are reshaping relapse prevention paradigms. The reviewed literature demonstrates that digital therapeutics increasingly serve as adaptive care platforms rather than static nterventions, delivering behavioral support flexibly while generating continuous data on recovery trajectories. The incorporation of AI-driven analytics enables the identification of individualized risk patterns and temporal vulnerability windows, supporting earlier, more targeted interventions than conventional models allow. At the same time, substantial heterogeneity exists in methodological approaches, outcome definitions, and validation strategies, limiting cross-study comparability and definitive conclusions regarding long-term effectiveness. Beyond technical performance, the findings highlight critical considerations related to clinical integration, patient engagement, equity, and governance. Issues surrounding algorithm transparency, data privacy, and generalizability emerge as central determinants of real-world impact. Collectively, the evidence suggests that digital therapeutics and AIassisted monitoring hold promise as components of precision oriented relapse prevention. Still, their success will depend on rigorous evaluation, ethical implementation, and alignment with existing care pathways. Continued interdisciplinary research and standardized reporting will be essential to translating these innovations into sustainable and equitable addiction care solutions.