Category Archives: News

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Women’s Day Reimagined: Experiential Ways to Celebrate in India

Let’s be honest, Women’s Day dinners have started to feel predictable. A complimentary dessert, themed décor, and that’s about it.

But the way women are choosing to celebrate is changing. The new mood is simple. Book the private theatre. Take over the pottery studio. Head to a trampoline park. Turn brunch into a three-hour catch-up. Choose spaces where the vibe is set by the group, not by the occasion.

Across India, experiential venues are seeing Women’s Day transform into a full-fledged outing. All-girls movie screenings, hands-on art workshops, gaming arena challenges, music-led evenings, and indulgent share-everything tables are replacing formal sit-down formats.

It is less about being celebrated and more about celebrating loudly, creatively, and on one’s own terms.

Here are some of the experiential ways women across India are redefining the day.

Signing Up for a Pottery or Art Workshop

Hands-on creative sessions are becoming a meaningful alternative to traditional dining. Pottery studios like The Clay Company and guided painting spaces such as The Palette Art Studio allow groups to create something tangible together. The process encourages collaboration and laughter, and participants walk away with a keepsake that extends the celebration beyond a single evening.

Booking a Private Theatre for a Screening

Private screening rooms are emerging as a popular alternative to conventional Women’s Day outings. Instead of navigating packed cinemas or fixed dining reservations, groups are choosing intimate theatres where the experience feels closed-door and entirely their own. Spaces such as The Binge Town operate on this format, allowing small gatherings to book private screens for movie marathons, tribute videos, or surprise celebrations.

The appeal lies in the privacy and flexibility, where the group controls the guest list, the content on screen, and the pace of the evening. It transforms a simple movie plan into something more personal and memory-driven.

Choosing Play Over Formality

Gaming arenas and activity-led spaces are seeing increased interest around Women’s Day. At venues like Smaaash, celebrations can include bowling, virtual reality experiences, and arcade challenges. Meanwhile, trampoline parks such as SkyJumper Trampoline Park offer a high-energy option for those who prefer movement over meals.

The common thread is shared adrenaline and playful competition.

Mixing Food with Interactive Entertainment

Some venues blend dining with immersive elements. Anime-inspired spaces like YouMee combine Asian cuisine with arcade-style gaming corners, creating a playful environment. Music-driven formats such as Hard Rock Cafe turn dinner into a live performance experience.

These hybrid formats allow celebrations to evolve organically from meal to shared entertainment, without centering the experience solely around dining.

Opting for Community-Led Spaces

For those who prefer quieter celebrations, community cafés such as Dialogues Cafe offer open mics, board games, workshops, and conversation-friendly settings. Women’s Day here may mean poetry readings, reflective discussions, or simply meaningful time spent with a close circle.

Celebration as Experience

What connects these varied formats is intention? Women’s Day in India is becoming less about ceremony and more about agency. Whether through cinema screenings, creative workshops, energetic play zones, or long brunch conversations, women are choosing celebrations that reflect their personalities and priorities.

From pottery wheels to private theatres, trampoline floors to shared tables, the modern Women’s Day is defined not by tradition but by choice.

Rotary Club of Madras Partners with Institute for Climate and Environment to Ignite Climate Action in Chennai

Chennai, Mar 03: The Rotary Club of Madras (RCM), in collaboration with the Institute for Climate and Environment (ICE), joined hands as community partners for a Sustainability Carnival and Primathon 2026, a two-day initiative dedicated to inspiring climate awareness and responsible living. Held on February 14 and 15, 2026 at Primrose School, Chennai, the event was thoughtfully curated by ICE, with the Rotary Club of Madras supporting the initiative to expand its reach and strengthen its impact within the community.

The event commenced with a meaningful step toward ecological restoration as Chief Guest President Rtn. Nikhil Raj, along with Director Youth Services Rtn. Suman Voora and Director Community Services Rtn. Suresh Arimapu, planted the first tree under ICE’s rewilding initiative, ROOTS (Restoring Our Original Tree Systems). The sapling, a Manoranjitham tree contributed by Rtn. Sunil Shanker, was planted within the Primrose School campus, symbolizing the beginning of a larger vision. Through the ROOTS initiative, ICE aims to plant one million trees over the next three years, working toward restoring native tree ecosystems and strengthening environmental resilience.

The Rotary Club of Madras was proud to have partnered with the Institute for Climate and Environment as its community partner for this initiative. The events were financially supported by Rtn. Fharzana Siraj, B&G Solar Pvt Ltd, and Kaleesuwari Foundations.

On February 15, the Primathon brought together students, parents, and educators for a 1.5-kilometre run representing the critical 1.5°C global warming threshold established by the Paris Agreement. The run was flagged off by Rtn. Sesha Sai, District Chairman, and served as a powerful reminder of the urgency of climate action. Participants ran wearing eco-friendly T-shirts made from sustainable materials, reinforcing the message that environmental responsibility can be integrated into everyday choices.

The event also introduced a unique perspective on sustainability by emphasizing inner balance as the starting point for environmental responsibility. Guided by ICE’s philosophy rooted in Triguna Theory, a yoga session was conducted to encourage the cultivation of Sattva — a state of inner clarity and balance. This approach highlighted that meaningful environmental change begins with mindful living, encouraging individuals to make conscious choices, reduce waste, and care for their surroundings as part of a holistic lifestyle.

A central highlight of the event was the Climate Action Pledge, which invited attendees to commit to adopting sustainable habits in their daily lives. Participants across both days signed the pledge as a promise to carry environmentally responsible practices back into their homes, schools, and workplaces. In recognition of their participation and commitment, donors, partners, volunteers, and attendees were presented with a Certificate of Climate Action from ICE.

For members of the Rotary Club of Madras, the initiative served as a powerful reminder that service can take many forms and that community fellowship can play a meaningful role in addressing global challenges at the local level. By supporting initiatives that inspire environmental awareness and collective responsibility, the Rotary Club of Madras continues to reinforce its commitment to community service and sustainable progress.

C Holds 10th Summit on Rural Prosperity

Chennai,  Mar 03: Mission Samriddhi Convenes Landmark 10th Summit to Redefine the Architecture of Rural Prosperity India’s pioneering social impact platform for holistic rural development, today commenced its landmark 10th Summit – a three-day national convergence designed not merely for dialogue, but for decisive, measurable rural transformation.

 Bringing together over 320 grassroots leaders, educators, administrators, development practitioners, and institutional partners from 15 states, Summit 10 marks the return of the Mission’s flagship gathering after a two-year strategic pause. This is not a ceremonial convening. It is a structured laboratory for action, synthesising field insights, refining scalable models, and defining a five-year execution roadmap for the 1,800 villages currently served under the Mission’s umbrella.

Unlike conventional conferences that conclude with recommendations, Summit 10 is outcome-driven by design. Each session is aligned to translate lived rural realities into structured intervention frameworks, cost models, and measurable progress indicators.

Participants represent the frontlines of education reform, local governance strengthening, livelihood creation, ecological restoration, child protection, and financial inclusion. Importantly, the Summit is architected as a radically inclusive platform ensuring that insights from the most remote villages inform national-level development thinking.

The main objective is to move beyond short-term charity efforts and build a long-term, structured approach to rural development. At the 10th Intellect Summit, Mission Samriddhi presented a new way of looking at CSR. Instead of focusing only on visible short-term results like infrastructure or one-time support, it promotes a deeper, five-year development model.  Mission Samriddhi believes that lasting rural progress does not come from temporary funding, but from long-term planning, stronger institutions, and meaningful social change.

A key highlight of Summit 10 is the launch of two important publications, Sangam is a practical handbook of tested rural development models, with clear frameworks, cost structures, timelines, and scalable solutions for social impact institutions. Winds of Change is a curated collection of village transformation stories from across India showcasing measurable progress in education, livelihoods, community cohesion, and dignity. Together, these publications turn field experience into replicable models for national scale impact.

Alongside this, a defining theme of Summit 10 is the democratization of Artificial Intelligence as an instrument of rural equity. Just as rural India leapfrogged into mobile commerce, the Summit positions AI as the next frontier for strengthening NGO capacity, improving grant precision, enhancing village-level communication systems, and scaling teacher training.

The focus is not on technology adoption for novelty, but on embedding AI within structured governance frameworks that amplify grassroots effectiveness while preserving community dignity. The intent is to transform episodic volunteering into disciplined, measurable contribution aligned with village-level priorities.

Commenting on the vision behind the Mission, Arun Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of Intellect Design Arena and Founder of Mission Samriddhi, said, “True and lasting societal transformation begins with intent. We see rural communities not as beneficiaries of charity, but as drivers of their own growth. Summit 10 is our collective effort to move from fragmented philanthropy to a structured and empathetic architecture of change that respects the dignity of every village.”

Highlighting the operational depth of the Mission’s work, Ram Pappu, Executive Director of Mission Samriddhi, added,

“Our work is rooted in the belief that sustainable change is an inside-out process. By strengthening the self-worth of marginalized communities and providing them with the requisite competence and connectivity, we are not merely implementing projects; we are fostering a movement of self-actualization. This Summit is the crucible where these diverse learnings are synthesized into scalable models that turn the dream of ‘Samriddhi’, prosperity for all, into a lived reality for the 1,800 villages we serve.”

As Mission Samriddhi enters its second decade, Summit 10 marks a shift from pilot success to structured scale. The Summit will deliver a five-year rural transformation blueprint, replicable Deep CSR frameworks, AI-enabled NGO support models, stronger volunteer systems, and expanded cross-state collaboration. It is not a celebration of the past, but a commitment to measurable progress in the decade ahead.

Motovolt celebrates Holi with ‘Apni Ride, Apna Rang’ themed multi-regional creator-led digital film campaign

Kolkata, Mar 02: Motovolt Mobility, an advanced and reliable electric two-wheeler solutions provider, welcomes the festive spirit of Holi with a collaborative digital film featuring multiple regional influencers coming together to capture and celebrate the excitement, vibrancy and bonds associated with the festival. The film, conceptualised in-house, follows the theme of Apni Ride, Apna Rang andhas been executed by brandsadvert, the brand’s influencer marketing and campaign partner.

Designed as a high-energy festive moment, the film brings together four creators from different content niches, each adding their own personality and rhythm to the narrative. Shot on the streets of Kolkata, with the colourful Deodar Street forming the visual backdrop, the film captures a festive morning that slowly builds into a shared celebration. What begins with quiet anticipation soon turns into playful colour exchanges, laughter and spontaneous ride moments, reflecting how celebrations unfold naturally in real life. Following the film’s theme, the story moves from individual moments to collective energy, fun chases on electric bikes and playful banter amongst friends.

Commenting on the digital film, Mr Tushar Choudhary, Founder & CEO, Motovolt Mobility,said,

“The celebration of Holi is incomplete without colours, friends, and a trusted mobility companion. This Holi film captures that spirit by placing the e-bike within real, shared moments of celebration, where movement and togetherness naturally come together. At Motovolt, our focus has always been on making mobility feel effortless and approachable. Our URBN e-bikes are designed to fit into everyday routines and moments that matter, not just as a way to move, but as a companion in how people experience their surroundings and connect with others.”

Manoj Kumar, Co-founder, brandsadvert, said,

 “Holi is one of the most expressive festivals in India, and for Motovolt, we brought together creators from different niches to build a shared narrative that travels across their communities, making the celebration and the brand’s mobility story more relatable. The idea was to show mobility as something that naturally fits into everyday experiences — whether it’s meeting people, moving through the city or celebrating together.”

The campaign highlights a shift in festive communication, where brands increasingly focus on lived experiences rather than staged messaging. By grounding the story in a real city setting and real creator personalities, Motovolt’s ‘Apni Ride, Apna Rang’ digital film connects celebration with everyday mobility in a way that feels familiar and relatable.

Hafele Strengthens “Make in India” Commitment with New Local Production Setup

Hafele announced the commencement of operations at its new local production setup in Maharashtra, India, marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-term localisation strategy and reinforcing its commitment to the Government of India’s “Make in India” initiative. This development represents a strategic step toward building a future-ready manufacturing ecosystem in the country, enabling local value creation while laying the groundwork for scalable operations.

Hafele’s global manufacturing and supply chain network already includes production facilities across Europe, forming a strong foundation of manufacturing excellence. The India production initiative builds on this established base, extending the company’s capabilities into one of its most strategically important growth markets.

In its initial phase, Hafele has commenced production with the MatrixBox Premium+ range of drawer systems—a solution designed to enhance functionality and durability in modern kitchens. Engineered for smooth soft-close and noiseless performance, the system supports heavy-duty usage and offers extensive design versatility through multiple premium finishes and customisable add-ons. This milestone marks the beginning of Hafele’s manufacturing strategy in India, with the setup created to enable the phased addition of further products and categories over time, aligned with market needs and long-term localisation plans.

This initial production site enables an early start to local manufacturing while Hafele simultaneously develops its larger-scale manufacturing hub to support future growth and expanded operations in India.

The initiative has been conceived as a strategic enabler within Hafele’s broader localisation roadmap. It supports early capability building, workforce training, process validation, and supply-chain stabilisation—while enabling more agile and efficient operations aligned with evolving market needs.

As part of strengthening its local manufacturing ecosystem, Hafele has expanded its Service+Customised capabilities in India. The company now produces bespoke aluminium profiled cabinet fronts at its dedicated set-up in Mumbai. These customised aluminium fronts are pre-assembled and pre-drilled to ensure precision, consistent quality, and efficient installation across kitchen, wardrobe, and furniture applications. By bringing this capability in-house, Hafele enhances design flexibility, improves lead times, and creates greater value for its channel partners—further advancing its long-term localisation strategy.

Sharing a global perspective, Michael Distl, Chief Financial Officer, Hafele Group, stated:

 “Strengthening our global production network requires strategic investments in key growth markets like India. This initiative enables early process validation, enhances financial efficiency, and builds organisational readiness, while ensuring that governance, quality, and compliance standards remain fully aligned with Hafele’s global benchmarks.”

Highlighting operational significance, Boris Katic, Chief Operating Officer, Hafele Group, added:

“Building strong manufacturing capabilities begins with people, finding the right processes and supply chains. This initiative is part of our broader vision to decentralise global supply chains by creating strategic sourcing and production hubs in key regions, thereby strengthening our position as a manufacturing-driven organisation and extending our production footprint closer to the markets we serve. In this context, India is poised to play a pivotal role, not only serving domestic demand, but also evolving into a hub that supports global markets in the years ahead.”

Commenting on the development, Frank Schloeder, Managing Director, Hafele South Asia, said:

 “This marks a decisive step forward in our ‘Make in India’ strategy. It enables us to build manufacturing capabilities locally, nurture talent, and respond faster to the needs of the Indian market. India continues to be a strategic growth market for Hafele, and this milestone reinforces our long-term commitment to local value addition and operational excellence.”

The initiative supports Hafele’s long-term strategy of increasing localisation by lowering reliance on imports, strengthening supply-chain resilience, and enabling faster, more agile responses to the needs of the Indian and South Asian markets, while creating a strong base for scalable and sustainable manufacturing operations in the years ahead.

Spring Just Got Stylish: Michael Kors Unveils Spring 2026 Watch Collection

Mar 02: Michael Kors welcomes Spring 2026 with an elevated edit of timepieces that capture the season’s fresh energy and refined glamour. Blending iconic silhouettes with contemporary detailing, the new collection introduces gemstone dials, radiant metallic finishes, sculptural bracelets and bold chronographs designed for both her and him.

Balancing playful sophistication with timeless appeal, the Spring 2026 lineup features warm rose gold tones, striking greens, sharp monochromes and statement straps. Each watch transitions effortlessly from everyday polish to standout occasions, embodying the brand’s signature blend of luxury and wearability.

FOR HER

Essex Collection (MK4998, MK4999, MK4997)
The classic Essex tank returns in refreshed finishes for Spring. From a rose gold-tone design paired with a sleek five-link half-moon bracelet and matching dial, to a chic two-tone variation with a crisp white dial, and a radiant gold edition with a coordinating gold dial, the Essex redefines everyday elegance with a refined yet modern sensibility.

Petite Lexington (MK7578)
A seasonal standout, the Petite Lexington features a luxe tiger’s eye dial — a personal pick from Michael himself. The rich, dimensional tones lend a fashion-forward edge to the timeless silhouette, complemented by a gold strap that enhances its sophisticated appeal.

Bryant (MK7600)
The bestselling Bryant returns with a bold green dial set within a warm rose gold-tone case. Its signature multi-link bracelet ensures comfort and polish, delivering a contemporary pop of color to a classic design.

FOR HIM

Lexington Chronograph (MK9257, MK9256)
The iconic Lexington is reimagined in two versatile interpretations. One features a rich brown leather strap with a striking two-tone 45 mm case and crisp white dial, while the other pairs a sleek black leather strap with a bold silver-tone case. Subtle vertical dial textures and precision chronograph movements enhance both functionality and style.

Prescott (MK9252)
Distinguished by its refined octagonal case and monochromatic aesthetic, the Prescott balances strength and sophistication. Finished in all black and equipped with a chronograph movement and linear bracelet, it transitions seamlessly from boardroom meetings to after-hours engagements.

With the Spring 2026 watch collection, Michael Kors continues to celebrate individuality and effortless glamour. Designed to complement both everyday dressing and elevated occasions, these timepieces serve as the ultimate finishing touch for the season ahead.

Imtiaz Ali, Huma Qureshi, Ali Fazal & More Shine at Indian Telly Streaming Awards 2026

Mumbai Mar 2: The landscape of entertainment in India has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, with streaming platforms redefining how audiences consume content. The Indian Telly Streaming Awards 2026 celebrated this revolution in spectacular fashion on 27th February at NESCO, Goregaon in Mumbai, bringing together the biggest names and brightest forces shaping the OTT ecosystem today.

Now in its fourth edition, ITSA 2026 delivered its grandest and most successful night yet – a landmark celebration that firmly cemented its position as India’s definitive awards platform for streaming entertainment. The evening witnessed an extraordinary turnout, with the biggest stars, leading creators, top executives, and key decision-makers from across the OTT and digital entertainment ecosystem gathered under one roof.

The red carpet sparkled with unparalleled glamour as marquee names including Huma Qureshi, Manoj Bajpayee, Ali Fazal, Ishaan Khatter, Boman Irani, Rasika Dugal, Imtiaz Ali, Soha Ali Khan and Munawar Faruqui led an unforgettable night of celebration. They were joined by an exceptional roster of winners such as Tanya Maniktala, Anand Tiwari , Vineet Kumar Singh, Deepak Dobriyal, Harman Baweja, Surya Sharma, Rahul Bhat, Sufi Motiwala, Rajat Bedi, Abhishek Sharma and many more – making it a night defined by excellence, recognition, and industry-wide celebration.

Hosted by the charismatic and dynamic duo Nakuul Mehta and Mukti Mohan, the ceremony delivered an electrifying atmosphere that perfectly reflected the scale, energy, and cultural impact of India’s streaming boom.

Beyond the talent in front of the camera, the evening also honoured the vast creative and technical ecosystem powering the OTT revolution – including directors, writers, editors, cinematographers, production designers, and technicians whose contributions continue to elevate Indian content onto the global stage.

The industry’s most influential streaming platforms – including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, ZEE5 and Amazon MX Player – had a commanding presence, with their shows and talent winning across major categories. Leading production houses such as Abundantia Entertainment, Applause Entertainment, Hoichoi, Pocket Aces, Pritish Nandy Communications, Ultra, Shemaroo and many more were also present, underscoring the awards’ importance as the premier gathering point for India’s streaming industry.

The scale of the event extended far beyond Hindi entertainment, with strong representation from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, and Gujarati content – highlighting ITSA’s commitment to celebrating the full diversity and depth of India’s OTT ecosystem.

Media presence at ITSA 2026 was equally unprecedented. From national television networks and leading digital publishers to top paparazzi agencies and entertainment portals, the red carpet and ceremony received extensive coverage, reinforcing ITSA’s standing as one of the most significant and widely followed entertainment events in the country.

The evening was made possible with the support of our esteemed partners. Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers joined as the Presenting Partner, adding timeless elegance to the celebrations, while DS Spice came on board as the Official Spice Partner. 

As the IP Owner, Anil Wanvari contributed to the Indian Telly Streaming Awards 2026 as the primary organizers and visionary leaders behind the event.

Mishaal Wanvari and Prerna Wanvari, as directors of the ITV group, oversee the operational execution and integrity of the 4th edition’s IP, ensuring it remains the “gold standard” for the industry.

ITSA 2026 was more than an awards ceremony it was a defining industry moment. With its scale, star power, industry participation, and cultural significance reaching new heights, ITSA 2026 has firmly established itself as the biggest and most influential awards platform dedicated exclusively to India’s OTT and streaming ecosystem.

App aids Substance Use Recovery in Vulnerable Populations

By Mark Reynolds

Although drug overdose deaths declined in the U.S. last year, the rate of substance use disorder is rising, and the problem remains undertreated: Fewer than one in five people with substance use disorder report that they’ve received any treatment for it. An especially vulnerable group are those who use substances and do not have stable housing, who research shows are both far more likely to experience overdose and much less likely to receive treatment for their condition compared to those who have secure housing.

A new study has shown that a mobile app developed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is effective at helping this at-risk population take steps toward recovery. Among people who misused opioids or other substances and lacked stable housing, those who used the app reported significant reductions in their opioid and non-opioid substance use after a month compared to those who did not engage with the app. App users also improved their health literacy and showed improvements in key mental health measures associated with successful treatment compared to their baseline measurements.

The study was published Feb. 1 in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Vidya Eswaran, MD, an assistant professor in the WashU Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine and lead author on the study, knows firsthand from her work in the Barnes-Jewish Hospital emergency department that patients struggling with housing insecurity have distinct needs, including inconsistent access to care and greater mental health burdens, that can make substance-use treatment harder to sustain than for patients in stable living situations.

“There is a lot of overlap with people who are experiencing housing insecurity and have substance use disorders, so it is important to make sure that the interventions that we provide are addressing the needs of this specific subpopulation,” said Eswaran. “Some people might think that these groups would not have a mobile phone or the digital literacy to use an app like this, but the results show people were not only using it, but also getting benefit from it.”

App inspired by online addiction-support communities

The uMAT-R (pronounced “you matter”) app was developed and launched in 2018 by a team led by Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, PhD, a professor in the WashU Medicine Department of Psychiatry and senior author of the new study. It was designed to provide free, easy-to-access support for people with any substance use disorder, including misuse of opioids, stimulants and hallucinogens, with the goal of reducing overall overdose deaths. It works on iOS and Android smartphones.

uMAT-R provides information on treatment options and social support resources within the user’s community, as well as user-specific tools such as a sobriety tracker. It also provides educational content on managing withdrawal, maintaining sobriety and improving mental health. Participants can communicate through a chat function with trained coaches (called “e-coaches”) who are available Monday through Friday and offer advice and encouragement.

The app is not yet publicly available; participants are generally enrolled while receiving care for substance use disorder at a treatment center or other health care facility in Missouri, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where patients are screened and enrolled through the WashU Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine’s Emergency Care Research Core staff. Other participants have requested enrollment through the research team after learning of the app through word of mouth. Cavazos-Rehg, who is also on the faculty of the WashU School of Public Health, noted that such peer-to-peer information sharing is characteristic of the online substance use disorder communities that provided the initial inspiration for the app.

“I observed how folks use social media venues to support each other, even during times when they were feeling most alone or stigmatized,” said Cavazos-Rehg. “They would ask questions on social media about clinical care and seek out resources for mental health help. This inspired me to develop a tool for people who are going through mental health problems or are in recovery support.”

Cavazos said that a long-term funding commitment from the Missouri Department of Mental Health brought the project to life. “They recognized that a lot of life happens outside of traditional in-person mental health and substance use treatment settings, and that mobile apps can be affordable, accessible tools that can improve the health and wellbeing of people, especially during critical times when other types of help may not be readily available,” she said.

The new study included data from a subset of uMAT-R users who were enrolled in the app between 2020 and 2024. Of 972 initial enrollees, more than 70% self-identified as having insecure housing — which could include living in shelters or on the street, living in a treatment facility or hospital, or staying in someone else’s home. Of those individuals, 378 completed a follow-up survey after a month of using the app, forming the study’s sample.

Participants completed an intake survey to assess substance use patterns, cravings and baseline level of health literacy — defined as the ability to find appropriate health information and resources in order to make health care decisions. The survey also included two measures of mental health, both correlated with depression: perceiving themselves to be a burden to those around them, and having a sense of not belonging. One month later, participants completed a new survey to identify any changes in these measures, and this information was correlated with patterns of app usage.

The researchers found that participants who used uMAT-R were about 50% less likely to have used non-opioid illicit drugs after a month compared to those who didn’t log on. And participants who messaged with the e-coach were about 50% less likely to report opioid use than those who did not use the function. Higher levels of app use were associated with greater reductions in illicit drug use overall. uMAT-R use was also associated with reduced substance cravings and lower perceived burdensomeness, and using the chat function was associated with improving health literacy and reducing feelings of social alienation and isolation, when compared to the baseline intake survey.

“These results speak to the promise of what mobile health and digital health technologies can bring to the treatment of hard-to-reach populations,” said Eswaran, who is planning a similar study for recently incarcerated people with substance use disorders. Going forward, “there’s potential to think creatively about how we adapt and refine tools like this even more to support vulnerable populations.”

Eswaran V, Dong F, Li X, Szlyk HS, Dell NA, Kasson E, Williams J, Cavazos-Rehg PA. Leveraging a digital health intervention to improve recovery outcomes among people with substance misuse experiencing housing insecurity. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Feb. 1, 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113022

The uMAT-R app is funded in part by the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. Funding for this study was provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant 1H79TIO80271, the National Institute on Drug Abuse grants R34DA050453 and R44DA055161 and the National Institute of Nursing Research grant T90NR021683. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.