Many people who access addiction treatments face stigma and barriers to care. This can be particularly true for people with opioid use disorder (OUD). A new study has investigated how the use of telehealth in OUD treatment might help reduce stigma and improve trust and autonomy.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is a virtual appointment with a clinician that individuals can use to access consultations and treatments, including therapies, prescription consultations, and screening remotely. It involves communicating with a clinician via technology, such as computers or phones, rather than attending appointments in person.
Telehealth can help people access treatments from a distance and can be used for various types of treatment. Telehealth is being increasingly used for substance use disorders, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person appointments became less accessible. [1][2]
Benefits of telehealth in addiction recovery
Professional treatment for OUD includes therapeutic interventions and medications, such as buprenorphine and methadone. Many people who receive these treatments and medications experience stigma, which can be a barrier to accessing necessary care. [3]
In some cases, stigma from the public and clinicians causes individuals to avoid seeking treatment. Clinician stigma can also prevent people from accessing compassionate or effective care. With high numbers of opioid overdoses in the US, access to evidence-based and compassionate care for OUD is necessary. [4]
Telehealth appointments may be an effective strategy to help reduce these issues, although there is little information about patient perspectives on this matter. A recent study explored the experiences of 30 people using telehealth for OUD treatment and receiving buprenorphine prescriptions. The results of this study found: [5]
- Patients felt that they had more autonomy and control over the treatment setting. Many reported that they found in-person appointments difficult due to feelings of shame about their OUD or struggling with physical withdrawal symptoms. They found telehealth was more physically and emotionally comfortable to access and they could easily end the appointment at any time if necessary.
- Patients felt that telehealth could help reduce their experience of public stigma and improve their privacy concerns. Not having to attend a clinic or treatment center helped many avoid the anxiety of public judgment. However, this aspect was found to impact both in-person and telehealth appointments. For example, some had concerns with telehealth privacy, such as those in shared houses with others in close proximity who might hear personal information.
- In some cases, patients felt they experienced less stigma from clinicians, whether real or perceived, as they would not witness behaviors or expressions that could be considered discriminatory. Some noted that audio-only appointments helped with this. However, others felt that telehealth worsened their experience of clinician stigma. For example, some reported that appointments felt impersonal, they couldn’t gauge the clinician’s perception of them, or they felt unheard by the clinician.
- Patients felt that telehealth appointments allowed for more flexibility, which helped improve trust between themselves and their clinicians. Many reported that attending in-person appointments felt time-consuming and telehealth was much quicker and easier. Additionally, some reported feeling more trusted and respected by clinicians with telehealth, particularly as they no longer had to attend the clinic every few days.
This study shows how telehealth can help many individuals feel more comfortable accessing OUD treatment with reduced stigma. However, it also indicates the need for further exploration into implementing this treatment method, as it may not be entirely appropriate or beneficial for all. It also highlights the need for adequate clinician telehealth training.
Where to find telehealth
If you are currently engaged in substance use disorder treatment, you may be able to commence telehealth appointments by asking your clinician.
You can also look online for available services, such as via:
