Understanding Telehealth-Enabled Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

The United States has grappled with a mounting public health crisis stemming from opioid misuse for the past three decades. Originating in the 1990s, the opioid crisis escalated over time, reaching epidemic proportions in 2017. The subsequent COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated this issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1999 to 2021, nearly 645,000 individuals succumbed to opioid-related overdoses, encompassing both prescription and illicit opioids. The year 2020 to 2021 alone witnessed a distressing 15 percent surge in opioid-involved death rates. To combat the devastating consequences of opioid use disorder (OUD), characterized by the CDC as a problematic opioid usage pattern causing significant impairment or distress, various strategies have been implemented. These include preventive measures such as prescription drug monitoring programs and the expansion of access to treatments like medication-assisted therapy. Telehealth, which gained prominence during the pandemic, stands as a crucial avenue for enhancing treatment accessibility.