During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were able to access virtual meeting platforms like Zoom that helped them overcome isolation and stay connected with their peers and work. These same platforms are now used regularly to help individuals maintain sobriety and stay on track with their addiction treatment plan even when they cannot make it into a clinic or support group due to limited scheduling or other issues.
Addiction recovery is a long journey that requires commitment and consistency. However, these are not easy tasks for those with busy lives, who may struggle with financial constraints or who might not have the necessary technology. That’s why a new source of recovery support has been made available that makes getting clinical help more accessible, no matter where you are: telehealth addiction treatment.
In its most basic form, telehealth is simply a video conferencing platform that allows a medical professional to meet with their patients online. With addiction treatment telehealth, a counselor or therapist conducts sessions with an individual via a video conference call. These sessions closely resemble in-person meetings and are treated with the same level of care and professionalism you would expect from an addiction specialist.
This new method of recovering from addiction is proving effective. A recent study found that telehealth one-to-one counseling was equally or more effective than in-person sessions. Additionally, participants of a telehealth addiction treatment program found it more convenient than attending an in-person meeting and less likely to miss or skip sessions.
Another advantage to telehealth addiction treatment is that it eliminates travel time. Depending on your location, it can take 30-60 minutes or more to get to a treatment facility, which can be inconvenient when you’re already struggling with a substance use disorder and trying to find time for addiction recovery.
Online addiction treatment also makes it easier for those with transportation challenges or who live in rural areas to receive help, particularly if they require medication support recovery (MSR) such as suboxone or methadone. Studies show that patients who have telehealth support for MSR are more likely to follow their prescription and sustain sobriety, which is important because it is known that these medications are more effective when taken as prescribed.
As a result, it is safe to say that telehealth is here to stay and will continue to grow as an option for recovery support. In addition to offering more convenience, it’s been shown to be cost effective and reduces wait times for patients.
As with any treatment, it’s important to assess a person’s specific needs and decide whether telehealth addiction treatment is the right fit. Ultimately, the effectiveness of online therapy depends on a variety of factors including the severity of the addiction, their living conditions and the ability to commit to a virtual session with a trained and experienced medical professional. If you are interested in telehealth addiction treatment, reach out to us today at our Bay-Area facility and speak with a team member about your options for recovery. telehealth addiction treatment