Original article posted at ideacenter.nd.edu
With alcohol and drug addiction accelerating and treatment providers stretched thin, Bowen Center is turning to a powerful, artificial intelligence (AI) software application to help patients stay the course on their treatment and make it easier for clinicians and family members to support recovery. Indiana’s largest Community Mental Health Center and offering addiction recovery treatment has announced it has licensed Intrepid Phoenix Ventures’ software that employs AI to predict relapses before they occur so proactive interventions can be taken. Intrepid Phoenix Ventures is an IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame startup.
Bowen Center, which conducted a successful pilot of the app with clinicians and patients, will deploy the Intrepid Phoenix app in a number of their service locations in northern Indiana. The app will be provided to clinicians that include therapists, counselors, primary care physicians, and skills/recovery coaches first who will then introduce the app to patients and their family members as an integral part of their personalized care plan. In addition to helping break the cycle of relapse, the app will be used to track progress and connect patients with those supportive of their recovery journey.
The devastation caused by addiction—death, compromised health, homelessness, fractured families—is what inspired Intrepid Phoenix Founder and CEO Larry Smith, himself a recovering addict, to spearhead and now commercialize the software application. “The rates of addiction coupled with relapse for those who seek treatment are heart breaking. Yet with the right support at the right time, recovery is possible. Our application uses the latest AI technology to identify behaviors that indicate threat of relapse and sends alerts to clinicians and personal support teams who can intervene and help the person stay on track.
“This feature alone is unique in the industry. Because it runs on a smart phone just like games and social apps, it’s very easy for those in rehab to use anytime, anywhere to follow and being accountable to their treatment plan. There’s also a clinician desktop that allows them to work with patients, monitor progress and initiate interventions.”
Alcohol and drug addiction rates have accelerated in recent years due in part to the social anxiety caused during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s estimated that there are 32 million Americans with substance abuse disorders. More than 107,520 died from drug overdoses in 2021, with 88,000 succumbing to alcohol-related deaths. Only 10 percent of those with substance abuse addictions seek treatment. About 86 percent will relapse before completing their first year of treatment.
Like other addiction treatment centers, Bowen Center has experienced an overwhelming demand for services. “Three things excited us about Intrepid Phoenix,” says Wayne Peterson-Stephan, Director, Addiction Recovery Services, Bowen Center. “The first is the app’s positive impact on those struggling with addiction and their families. The app provides individuals with an interactive and accessible recovery plan that can be accessed when someone needs it most. Second, is the ability to remove barriers to care such as access to trained clinicians, recovery support between clinical appointments, and increased care coordination. Finally, the app enables our clinicians to be more efficient with their time by providing objective data on a patient’s recovery while remaining deeply connected to them as an individual. We are eager to introduce Intrepid Phoenix and hope to be live by September 2023.”
Co-founder Nitesh Chawla, a professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, says AI technology may be the missing link to successful addiction rehabilitation. “Relapses can happen at any time, and often too late for a successful intervention. Our goal is to use technology to tip the scales away from relapse to recovery, giving people a better chance of turning their lives around.”
Intrepid Phoenix Ventures is currently in discussions with multiple treatment centers across Indiana.
About Intrepid Phoenix Ventures, Inc.
Intrepid Phoenix Ventures, Inc. is a technology company headquartered in La Porte, Indiana, that seeks to reverse the devastating social and economic effects of alcohol and drug addiction. The company’s AI-powered software application of the same name connects patients, families, personal support networks, and clinicians to proactively keep individuals on track to sobriety. Additionally, the app helps to remove barriers to successful treatment such as access to care and cost. Learn more information contact: Larry Smith. lsmith@intrepidphoenixventures.com.
About Bowen Center
Bowen Center started as a non-profit Community Mental Health Center in northern Indiana in 1961. The center now serves Hoosiers from Indianapolis north treating patients with emotional health care, primary health care, and addiction recovery services. Bowen Center strives to strengthen its communities and to improve the health and well-being of those it is privileged to serve. For more information visit BowenCenter.org.