Individuals struggling with opioid addiction require proper care and treatment. With online treatment becoming increasingly popular, it’s now easier than ever to receive the help you need and deserve. Through telehealth treatment, also referred to as telemedicine, recovering individuals can receive top of the line treatment from the comfort of their homes. There are many benefits to a virtual rehabilitation program that can make all the difference in an addicted person’s life.
There are already many recovering individuals benefiting from telehealth treatment for opioid addiction. A former addict by the name of Nathan Post, needed treatment after a decade-long drug addiction. In an interview with NPR, Nathan goes on to share his story about receiving online treatment in 2018 by signing up for weekly individual and group counseling sessions.
Nathan mentions that, “As an addict, it was easy to have excuses not to do stuff, but this was easy because I could just be in my living room and turn on my computer, so I had no reason to blow it off.”
This goes on to show that there are countless benefits and opportunities using telehealth treatment for individuals in need of opioid addiction treatment. At Footprints to Recovery, we have a variety of high-quality online treatment resources.
What is Telehealth/Telemedicine?
The use of telemedicine for opioid addiction treatment gives health care professionals the ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients at a distance with the use of telecommunications technology. Telemedicine, also referred to as telehealth treatment, is a fantastic innovation that allows healthcare professionals to reach people and areas that they previously weren’t able to. For example, With the consistent progression of technology, recovering individuals can now receive opioid addiction treatment wherever they are through their phone, tablet, or computer.
The Opioid Epidemic: Let’s Look at the Facts
Did you know that more than 11 million people misused prescription opioids in 2017? Furthermore, prescription opioids were involved in more than 35% of all opioid overdose deaths, nearly 17,000, in the same year. The opioid epidemic has devastated countless people and communities nationwide. It’s a war that our country has been fighting for decades now.
It is vital to help our fellow neighbors and peers recover from opioid addiction through greater access to treatment. Millions of Americans use opioids to manage pain yearly. Although they are prescribed and often appropriate in some cases, the reliance on these opioids has led to the most severe drug crisis in American history.
Telehealth Treatment: The Benefits of Taking it Online:
There are many benefits to telehealth treatment for opioid addiction. We believe that each person has an enormous potential to not only live a long-lasting sober life, but gain a newfound sense of fulfillment. Kindly see below for a handful of benefits that go alongside telehealth treatment.
No more worries about transportation.
Many individuals in need of opioid addiction treatment may find themselves worrying about transportation. When you attend treatment through a mobile device or computer, you can save money on gas, parking, and public transportation. Also, you can do everything from the comfort of your own home so a car isn’t even required. Traffic, tardiness, and any vehicle-related issues no longer get in the way of receiving opioid addiction treatment.
No need to take time off of work.
When it comes to your professional life, you’ll be able to attend work as usual without needing to fret about taking time off. You can simply schedule your online sessions based on your needs and schedule. As long as you have space with some privacy, you’ll be able to receive treatment from just about anywhere.
The ability to take care of a child or elder at home.
When looking for opioid addiction treatment, it’s common to be hesitant due to responsibilities at home. Many recovering individuals have obligations such as taking care of a child or elder at home. This is one of the biggest benefits of telehealth treatment. You can focus on your priorities at home while receiving the treatment you need. There’s no need to leave your home which allows you to fulfill your responsibilities.
Access to the highest quality addiction specialists.
Recovering individuals in need of opioid addiction may find themselves unable or reluctant to drive long distances and invest a lot of time for each treatment session. Telehealth treatment for opioid addiction makes it possible to leverage the expertise of addiction specialists and counselors who may not be nearby. This is another major advantage when it comes to telehealth treatment.
Hate the waiting room? That’s no longer a problem with telehealth treatment for opioid addiction.
We all remember those old magazines that are often lying around in a doctor’s office. Through telehealth treatment, you can save yourself quite some time and page-flipping! Another benefit of telehealth treatment for opioid addiction is that there’s no need to wait around for your appointment. No waiting room, no problem.
Improved health and less risk of catching any sicknesses.
The ability to attend treatment from the comfort and safety of your home increases your chances of staying healthy. Even better, you can immediately apply what you learned in treatment to live at home. With telehealth treatment for opioid addiction, you can pay closer attention to your health without needing to leave your home.
Immediate application of lifestyle changes combined with consistent communication.
Telehealth treatment can be enormously beneficial in treating opioid addiction for this reason. Healthy behavior patterns are created through consistent sessions with a therapist. Certain basic behavior-based apps and programs portray to recovering individuals how to take action in their lifestyle changes. As healthier coping mechanisms are formed, the recovering individual will slowly become free from the shackles of addiction. Also, communication and recovering individuals highly benefit from consistent communication and motivation.
Online Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are many treatment options available through telehealth treatment for opioid addiction. Through video conferencing and phone calls, our addiction specialists are within your reach to help you successfully recover. It’s important to emphasize that all counseling and medical services will remain 100% confidential. Your privacy is our priority and we plan to treat it as such.
You may be asking yourself, what kind of treatment can I receive if I’m not able to travel to the recovery center? You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the amount of resources and benefits through telehealth treatment for opioid addiction.
Online Intensive Outpatient Programs for Opioid Addiction
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) can help you recover from opioid addiction from the comfort and safety of your home. An IOP operates through scheduled weekly sessions with addiction specialists and counselors built on the foundation of a personalized treatment plan. Online intensive outpatient programs give recovering individuals the opportunity to partake in therapy at home without the need for a commute. Telemedicine and telehealth apps allow patients to participate in virtual counseling sessions with their assigned addiction specialist.
Video Conferencing in Telehealth Treatment for Opioid Addiction
Video conferencing is a key component of a telehealth IOP treatment plan and it provides benefits such as:
- Video therapy: Video therapy includes counseling sessions between the patient and therapist. These can be one-on-one sessions, as well as group therapy. A combination of evidence-based therapy will be incorporated such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical-behavioral therapy.
- Specialty services: Recovering individuals will be able to access medical professionals that can prescribe buprenorphine (a drug used in opioid addiction treatment).
Telephone-Based Treatment Sessions
Telephone-based treatment has been used as an aftercare method for quite a while now. It’s not only effective, but highly convenient as well. It’s simple to put into practice and requires nothing other than a private space and phone. Telephone-based care includes telephone monitoring, feedback, and counseling sessions for opioid treatment.
Online Recovery Meetings
Online recovery meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous Meetings are now taking place online. These types of meetings are a key component in addiction recovery. There’s a recovery meeting for every type of addiction. You’ll be able to openly share your thoughts and feelings with individuals that understand what you’re going through. There are faith-based recovery meetings, as well as SMART Recovery Meetings with a more science-based approach. These recovery meetings use platforms such as Zoom and Google Hangouts to orchestrate large virtual meetings.
Reap the Benefits of Telehealth Treatment for Opioid Addiction and Call Us Today!
At Footprints to Recovery, we’re here for you every step of the way. Through the highest quality telehealth treatment, you can receive the help you deserve. With the utmost convenience, you can simultaneously take care of your needs while attending treatment.
You can begin the road to overcoming opioid addiction by taking that first step in the right direction by seeking help. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re waiting for your call!
