A New Generation of Transdermal Alcohol Biosensing Technology: Practical Applications, Machine -learning Analytics and Questions for Future Research

Overview

Journal Addiction

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2021 Apr 28

PMID 33908674

Citations 13

Authors

Catharine E Fairbairn

Nigel Bosch

Affiliations

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Abstract

The use of transdermal alcohol monitors has burgeoned in recent years, now encompassing hundreds of thousands of individuals globally. A new generation of sensors promises to expand the range of applications for transdermal technology exponentially, and advances in machine-learning modeling approaches offer new methods for translating the data produced by transdermal devices. This article provides (1) a review of transdermal sensor research conducted to date, including an analysis of methodological features of past studies potentially key in driving reported sensor performance; (2) updates on methodological developments likely to be transformative for the field of transdermal sensing, including the development of new-generation sensors featuring smartphone integration and rapid sampling capabilities as well as developments in machine-learning analytics suited to data produced by these novel sensors and; (3) an analysis of the expanded range of applications for this new generation of sensor, together with corresponding requirements for sensor accuracy and temporal specificity. We also note questions as yet unanswered and key directions for future research.

Citing Articles

A wearable alcohol biosensor: Exploring the accuracy of transdermal drinking detection.

Fairbairn C, Han J, Caumiant E, Benjamin A, Bosch N Drug Alcohol Depend. 2024; 266:112519.

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Endpoints for Pharmacotherapy Trials for Alcohol Use Disorder.

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Signal processing and machine learning with transdermal alcohol concentration to predict natural environment alcohol consumption.

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Baseline protective behavioral strategy use predicts more moderate transdermal alcohol concentration dynamics and fewer negative consequences of drinking in young adults' natural settings.

Russell M, Smyth J, Turrisi R, Rodriguez G Psychol Addict Behav. 2023; 38(3):347-359.

PMID: 37384452 PMC: 10755066. DOI: 10.1037/adb0000941.

Wearable alcohol monitors for alcohol use data collection among college students: Feasibility and acceptability.

Rosenberg M, Kianersi S, Luetke M, Jozkowski K, Guerra-Reyes L, Shih P Alcohol. 2023; 111:75-83.

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