Virtual SUD Treatment Even More Critical Post-Pandemic

Even for those of us who believe in the power of technology to create lasting and positive change, it’s rare to witness it happening in real time—but I believe that’s exactly what’s going on now, right before our eyes.

Over the past year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated important conversations we’ve long been having, particularly in the field of healthcare technology. With quarantine restrictions in place, clinical providers were forced to experiment with alternative methods of providing care via telehealth, and many recognized that innovative care delivery models – such as telehealth, video conferencing, and other “remote” support are important methods to bridge gaps in healthcare access

That is particularly true when it comes to treatment of patients with substance use disorders (SUD). At the beginning of the pandemic, behavioral health providers and the patients they serve were understandably concerned that the stresses of life under quarantine, combined with the disruption in regular treatment, would lead to disastrous results. According to the Addiction Policy Forum, early in the pandemic, 20% of SUD patients in recovery increased substance use and 34% had disruption to their recovery support services. Virtual services became an essential support mechanism nearly overnight.

Virtual recovery care needs beyond the pandemic

Today’s technology certainly played a pivotal role in helping behavioral health providers deliver critical patient treatment while offices were closed to visitors and recovery support groups were off-limits due to COVID. But looking at digital solutions as only a means to an end during an unprecedented crisis would be short-sighted.

Challenges in accessing treatment and recovery care have always been there for our patients. For example, we know that SUD treatment is incredibly segmented. With little coordination between initial intervention, acute treatment and post-acute recovery via support programs, patients often travel the long road to recovery on their own. For those patients who find a recovery program that works for them, there are other obstacles to overcome—like accessing care in rural areas where there are fewer available options or attending in-person support groups and therapy while trying to hold down a job and raise a family. Even for those who find successful supports in recovery, patients often face long stretches of time between support meetings and counseling appointments, during which time they often face feelings of isolation, anxiety, and triggers that can increase the risk of relapse.

In a field where studies show up to half of patients will exit their outpatient treatment program within three months, it is incumbent upon us to remove any additional barriers that my stand between a patient and his or her ability to recover. We know peer support programs are an essential component of the recovery process; research has shown they help to reduce relapse and rehospitalization rates, improve treatment retention and increase patients’ satisfaction with their overall recovery. Those who do not have the opportunity to participate in these programs due to distance, disability or demands on their time are at a significant disadvantage, but technology gives us the chance to level the playing field by broadening access and providing ongoing recovery support in ways that work within the constraints of everyday life.

Digital solutions are built to engage patients at each step of their recovery, linking them to a community of peers and tools to keep them motivated whenever they need help. The recent introduction of virtual recovery support group meetings moderated by peer support specialists is another step in the right direction. These daily video-based meetings cover a wide range of topics that apply to all stages of the recovery process, and patients can access them from wherever they are, whether that’s a computer at home or a smart phone while they’re on the go.

It is essential that all providers across the continuum of care modernize and simplify the process of seeking treatment while breaking down barriers that keep patients from being successful in their recovery. As the patients we serve begin to return to their pre-pandemic lives, it’s more important than ever to meet them where they are and offer them access to ongoing care and support that can help sustain their recovery. Let’s not turn back the clock and expect our patients to follow. Let’s use recent gains in technology to push for lasting change.

Hans Morefield is the Chief Executive Officer at CHESS Health