Can you recover from addiction using only online sources? Do you need the in person?
2020 has changed the landscape for recovery and has pushed programs to rely on the utilization of online resources and virtual engagement. Many may wonder if online is enough to truly provide the appropriate support for their clients. It seems, as the months are going by, that technology definitely has a place and may have permanently changed the services provided moving forward.
For starters, some treatment and support is better than none at all.
COVID has introduced even more barriers to a patient getting the help that they truly need. Either programs are at capacity, not accepting new clients due to potential exposure risks, or the patients are unable to travel to the treatment provider. With the use of platforms like Zoom, One Step, or other technology providers, programs now have a way to support and engage with clients all over the nation.
But, is the virtual care modality enough? Don’t you need the group sessions in person to truly feel the sense of community?
According to Brittany Reid, PsyD, at the Betty Ford Center, it is enough. “Our experience is that the group dynamic in virtual care closely replicates what happens during in-person sessions.” With the use of virtual platforms, patients can still build comradery and share their stories and struggles with one another. The plus is that now patients that may not have been able to attend group can attend from the comfort of their own homes. If anything, the virtual care modality is bringing even more people together and providing more care!
What about treatment outside of group sessions? Is telemedicine effective?
MedCity News reported a research initiative in Ontario that found that “one year of buprenorphine or methadone therapy via telemedicine was strongly correlated with improved physical and mental health and reduced illicit drug use, relapse, hospitalization, mortality, and illegal activity.”
Although there might be skepticism about the effectiveness of telehealth, it seems that it certainly has a place. Our world is moving in a direction where technology has become so advanced that it can truly help bridge gaps, bring people together, and provide appropriate care. It’s necessary that programs and industries adapt and adopt the use of technology to not only provide state-of-the-art care, but also stay competitive.