PORTLAND, Ore. – Patients struggling with addiction might greatly benefit from increased telehealth services, according to a recent study. Researchers discovered that telehealth can offer more autonomy to people with substance use disorders, helping them overcome feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety often associated with their condition.
“[E]specially in the beginning, I was very shameful… I felt judged and…demeaned because of my addiction. To be able to speak to someone in the comfort of my own space… and not have to feel…the excessive anxiety that goes with all of that, was absolutely beneficial for me,” wrote one study participant.
For the study, Oregon Health and Science University researchers interviewed 30 people who had at least one virtual appointment and had been prescribed buprenorphine, a medication commonly used to treat opioid addiction. Many participants expressed a preference for telehealth due to concerns about the stigma of substance use disorder and the potential of running into someone they knew during in-person appointments.
“I was pretty successful…I was connected to pretty important people for what I was doing.…I just didn’t wanna run into anyone in there, that was a stigma to me,” said a study participant.
Another participant said, “I dread going to their office and being in their waiting room….People are…just nosy….Sometimes you have to run into somebody, and they’re like, ‘What are you here for?’”
However, not all participants favored telehealth. Some preferred in-person visits, especially those who lived with others who might overhear or see their virtual consultations.
