Virtual Tools for Staying Healthy

 

These days, we use our smart phones to do just about everything. There's texting and social media, of course, but one of the best ideas is to use your phone to foster better health. These days, we use our smart phones to do just about everything. There’s texting and social media, of course, but one of the best ideas is to use your phone to foster better health. 

Free apps can help you start and keep healthy habits like exercising and eating a balanced diet. Other apps can assist with avoiding or quitting unhealthy habits, like smoking, drinking, or use of other substances. 

Our prevention partners at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shared some recommended health-oriented apps and online programs to try – all of which are FREE:

Reduce Stress - the U.S. miliary designed an app called Breathe2Relax which offers breathing exercises that have been shown to reduce stress and help with managing anger and anxiety.

Smoking + Vaping - an app from Smokefree.gov called quitSTART  can help people who smoke people who smoke get ready to quite with tailored tips, inspiration, and challenges. Users can monitor progress and find support to get back on track if they slip. For young people ages 13-24 who want to quite vaping, the Truth Initiative offers a free and anonymous text message program based on age called This Is Quitting 

Children of parents who have substance use problems - a free program called Alateen offers support for teens (ages 13-18) in this situation. They can register to participate in regular chats as a safe place for them to share experiences, discuss difficulties, encourage one another, and learn effective ways to cope with problems.

Read more about it!

https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/parents-educators/conversation-starters/virtual-tools-staying-healthy