title: Real-time mobile detection of drug use with wearable biosensors: a pilot study.
abstract: While reliable detection of illicit drug use is paramount to the field of addiction, current methods involving self-report and urine drug screens have substantial limitations that hinder their utility. Wearable biosensors may fill a void by providing valuable objective data regarding the timing and contexts of drug use. This is a preliminary observational study of four emergency department patients receiving parenteral opioids and one individual using cocaine in a natural environment. A portable biosensor was placed on the inner wrist of each subject, to continuously measure electrodermal activity (EDA), skin temperature, and acceleration. Data were continuously recorded for at least 5 min prior to drug administration, during administration, and for at least 30 min afterward. Overall trends in biophysiometric parameters were assessed. Injection of opioids and cocaine use were associated with rises in EDA. Cocaine injection was also associated with a decrease in skin temperature. Opioid tolerance appeared to be associated with a blunted physiologic response as measured by the biosensor. Laterality may be an important factor, as magnitude of response varied between dominant and nondominant wrists in a single patient with bilateral wrist measurements. Changes in EDA and skin temperature are temporally associated with intravenous administration of opioids and cocaine; the intensity of response, however, may vary depending on history and extent of prior use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, University Campus, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA, Stephanie.Carreiro@umassmemorial.org.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carreiro
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smelson
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranney
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: Edwin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Boudreaux
authors.forename: Rashelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Edward W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Boyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014953:Wrist
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003042:Cocaine