Across two recent studies, Dr. Greenwald and his colleagues examined whether a small, wearable brain stimulation device – called the NET Device™ – could reduce withdrawal symptoms and support people during the first fragile weeks of recovery.

Medications such as methadone and buprenorphine are proven, life-saving treatments and remain the cornerstone of care for opioid use disorder. Yet some people entering residential treatment choose not to use them. Reasons vary, from personal beliefs to access barriers or concerns about stigma. For this group, clinicians often have limited tools to offer beyond basic symptom relief.

The NET Device is designed to provide another option. Worn behind the ears, it delivers very mild electrical pulses to the brain using a technique known as transcranial alternating current stimulation. The stimulation is not painful or sedating, and users can go about their day while wearing it. The aim is to gently influence brain activity linked to withdrawal distress.

In the first study, published in early 2025, Dr. Mark Greenwald’s team conducted a clinical trial in a residential treatment program. More than 100 adults with opioid use disorder attempted detox without medication. Half received active stimulation, while the rest wore a sham device that looked identical but delivered no current.

Within an hour, people using the active device showed a dramatic drop in withdrawal severity – an average reduction of over 60%. Nearly all experienced meaningful relief, far exceeding results seen with the sham device. Participants receiving active stimulation also chose to wear it longer and reported greater satisfaction with the experience.

A second study followed participants for 12 weeks after discharge. Overall drug use rates did not differ sharply between groups. However, a closer look revealed something important: individuals who had used the active device for more than 24 hours during detox had far better outcomes, with very low levels of opioid use and higher rates of abstinence.

Dr. Greenwald stresses that the NET Device is not meant to replace medications or therapy. Instead, it can offer critical support for people who decline medication, helping them get through the most punishing phase of recovery.