SoberApp: The app was developed to stop recovering addicts from relapsing. The app sounds an alert each time the person is around a bar You then have to make a choice to change your course to avoid the bar/pub, etc because you just might bump into someone, a drinking buddy maybe who might make you fall. The app also has some other features: Your thoughts on such apps?
This sounds like an interesting app, and could be very effective for someone who has a hard time refraining due to social scenery. But I do have to wonder if it could be effective for someone who drinks by themselves, usually at home and alone, or who never sets foot into a social place to drink. I am sure the periodic questions help their thinking process--I may seriously need to check into the apps for my Dad. Any suggestions on which app to try?
I believe that it still can be helpful because it has an a "panic" button which if . . . [the recovering addict is] tempted [can "click"] leading to a call from a friend or counsellor So if you get that call and a friend or counselor encourages you to resist the craving then I suppose this would stop you from using the drug at the moment, right? The app is called "Soberphone app." Since it's got a number of rave reviews it would be the one app I would recommend.
Really appreciate that recommendation @Rainman! I am going to try and ease my Dad into this app idea. He still doesn't think his drinking is a problem, but myself and family know better. Hopefully he will listen. If he does, I will be back and let you know how it works out for him. Thanks for sharing! Otherwise, I wouldn't have even known there was such an app :]
It could be helpful to those who want the help and want extra ways to keep themselves clear from such areas. Sometimes people don't like other people telling them what to do, but with the app its like they are in control and would want to prove to themselves they can do it with an app. It might sound silly, but it could be helpful to some.
The app seems quite helpful, because it's like your mom that nags you not to relapse or go to somewhere that you know that it's not for your own good. And you can also speak to a counselor with just a 1 click, which can easily distract the person because their attention will now be diverted to speaking to another person. And if it's a free app, then it would be all the more good.
Well it's certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to diversifying the amount of resources we have to combat addiction. It's a tool that pretty much makes the lives of those involved easier. It's not in any way to be confused with treatment or a cure.
It's good to see that not only game apps are being patronized and marketed nowadays, but also addiction recovery apps that are absolutely very relevant. These recovery apps could be an alternative method for techie people to get daily inspiration and be motivated to go towards the path of being clean and sober.
I think it would be amazing. That being said the logistics of it would be rather hard. For instance on my way into university I have to pass 12 bars and pubs on the way out. To my work I have to pass 6. There's a bar facing my apartment and one beside were I go grocery shopping. How could I possibly avoid the app beeping away at me to not go past them even though i'm just walking past and not going in.
I feel that apps are a good help in the way that keep us entertained with some interesting data. The bar alert seems a great feature too, no way we should go near them...!
I'm glad new era developers have started incorporating technology with social causes. Although this app may still be in its beta phase, I would like to believe it will get better in the long run and more people will benefit from it. I mean, it may not be for everyone but for certain, other recovering substance abusers will warm up to it. The developers need to enhance the app from time to time, though, in accordance with user needs and recommendations.
The app world has a lot to offer, but at the same time not everyone can access technology. Either cases it would be something I'd use, any help is valuable in these cases.
I don't have a smartphone so this won't help me. I think there is too much dependency on computers to teach us right from wrong. People have to take care of themselves and learn right from wrong. I think children in general are becoming terrible spellers because now a days writing programs will correct spelling and grammer for you.
It is interesting how technology is changing many things on how we view and deal with them. I have never heard of this app but it sounds amazing and creative way to help in one of crucial issues affecting us today.
This is quite interesting. The only other app I had heard of like this was an app for helping people to give up smoking. I've been learning a bit of mobile app development myself over the last couple of years and have been looking for ideas for apps so these are things to take on-board. This gives me some ideas for self-help/self-improvement apps myself, rather than trying to make games.
I don't know what I think about this particular app. There is a potential for it to backfire. Say, a recovering person is wandering around a new town, not really thinking about drinking, and an alarm sounds, saying, "Hey, there's a bar right around the corner." I could imagine that some times the recovering person might think, "oh, it's right there. I should go check it out." But there are other apps which are amazing for people in recovery who *want* to stay sober. You can get a lot of 12-step literature as an app for your phone. I could also see apps that regularly pop-up encouraging words, or that, if you feel like drinking/using, you could consult the app to get alternatives to taking that drink/drug (pop-up phone numbers, or whatever.) @Sparkster , go for it! I think there is a big market for recovery-related apps!
Yeah, even if you don't have one there are other tricks that can help, but the fact is that our life is made easy on several aspects, so we just need to take advantage of what's available.
I have mixed feelings about a phone app like this. It would probably would work for some people, but be annoying for others. I signed up for a text message service soon before I originally tried to quit smoking and it was interactive, you were supposed to text back to describe your feelings and such. It ended up being more annoying to me than anything. An app that gives you alerts might work better though.
The issue here is Rosy, that we need to be annoyed, we need to do what we don't want to and that app could pretty much work like our adviser nagging us all the time. A good help I think.
I've got some unique ideas for incentives to include in such an app. Not only would the app give the user (pun not intended) a more interactive user experience but it would also provide them with a sense of achievement and accomplishment and they would feel rewarded for their efforts. I think being able to take pride in each further step accomplished is an important part of getting clean.