Can Telehealth Be Used to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder?
Use telehealth to screen for AUD, deliver therapy, and more!
Alcohol use disorder, or AUD, for short, affects millions of U.S. adults. It’s a condition that can take a toll on one’s health and lead to harmful consequences, including injuries and violence.
Although medical treatments, such as medications and behavioral therapies, are available for AUD, it’s rare for individuals to start and stick to treatment.
Below, we’ll review how alcohol use disorder is a ballooning public health problem with various challenges. We’ll also highlight how telehealth could help in treating alcoholism and bridging the access gap.
Alcohol use disorder: A growing concern
In 2023, almost 29 million people, ages 12 and up in the United States had AUD. Stats also reveal that every year, uncontrolled use results in more than 90,000 deaths. In addition, immoderate consumption can worsen one's overall health, as the condition is linked to liver disease, heart problems, and even mental health issues. Data shows that alcoholism costs the healthcare industry alone between $27 and $35 billion each year.
In total, excessive drinking costs the United States nearly $250 billion annually, and this number is expected to rise. But what could be driving this? Interestingly, the increase may be partially attributed to our aging population. One epidemiologic survey found that the rate of alcohol use disorder increased by 107% among individuals 65 and older.
The challenges associated with treating AUD
Experts know that it’s hard for individuals with AUD to just stop drinking, as multiple factors make sticking to treatment difficult. We’ll go over a few of those challenges below.
Alcohol consumption is socially acceptable
For one, alcohol is often associated with one's social life in Western societies, making it tough to draw the line between casual drinking and alcohol abuse. People can find alcohol references in practically every type of media, from social media posts to TV commercials and podcasts. Unfortunately, those who want to quit can’t avoid hearing or seeing it, which can drive relapse.
Excessive alcohol use can cause brain changes
The substance also alters the brain when used excessively. It produces reward effects that can trigger dopamine, causing people to become drawn to alcohol in various circumstances -- from celebrating achievements to alleviating emotional distress. Over time, it can damage areas of the brain related to memory, impulse control, and decision-making.
Barriers to treatment
Seeking help for AUD may be complicated by different barriers to care, as well. In a 2022 study, researchers discovered numerous barriers to substance abuse disorder treatment. Some of those obstacles included:
Individual barriers: Believing that treatment was unnecessary, fear of inconvenience, privacy concerns, fear of life without the routine etc.
Social barriers: Lack of social support, stigma, embarrassment, and other factors.
Structural barriers: Insufficient treatment provider locations, lack of available ancillary psychosocial services, lengthy waiting lists, long wait times, among others.
The growing market for alcohol use disorder
According to Fortune Business Insights, the U.S. substance use disorder treatment market is projected to rise from $37.24 billion to $60.18 billion between 2022 and 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. Compared to the others, the alcohol addiction treatment segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during that forecast period.
Based on the insights above, there’s an apparent demand for treating those with alcohol use disorder. However, despite the current availability of solutions, many people still choose not to undergo treatment.
Several are too embarrassed to talk about their challenges and fear being judged. For others, it’s the potential shame of being caught by their family, friends, or colleagues going into a treatment center.
It’s very possible that individuals would be more receptive to AUD treatment if they could do so in a way that maintained their autonomy, privacy, and routines.
4 ways telehealth can be used to treat alcohol use disorder
Telehealth is a highly versatile healthcare service delivery method. Not only are there different communication modalities for offering care, but there’s also a multitude of specialties to which it can be applied.
Below, we’ll share four examples of how telehealth can be used for AUD.
1. Use telehealth to conduct AUD screenings
In the past, if providers wanted to assess if a patient was potentially using substances at a risky level, those patients would have to visit a healthcare setting to be screened. However, today, an evidence-based standardized tool such as the ‘Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment’, or SBIRT, can be completed virtually.
Other tools, like the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or the CAGE questionnaire, can be conducted remotely as well, via phone or video call.
It’s also possible to integrate them into an electronic health record (EHR), so individuals can access their very own patient portal to complete the documents. Research shows that these portals may improve the doctor-patient relationship, boost health status awareness, and increase therapy adherence.
Overall, completing telehealth screenings makes it easier for providers and allows for earlier patient intervention, which is typically tied to better patient outcomes.
2. Use virtual care delivery for mental health services
Since COVID-19, telehealth has become a popular method for receiving therapy, with researchers showing that clinical outcomes are even similar to in-person visits. This delivery of care method allows patients to identify potential triggers and develop coping mechanisms, all while remaining in the comfort of their homes.
In a study reviewing patients' perceptions of virtual psychotherapy during the pandemic, patients remarked that:
Telehealth gave them no excuse to miss treatment
Virtual care decreases stigma
Phone delivery made it easier to talk to someone
Telebehavioral therapy overcomes transportation issues
Telehealth is convenient
Remote care is flexible due to its varying treatment modalities
3. Implement telehealth to aid with medication management
In 2022, only 2.2% of individuals with AUD received medications for alcohol use disorder. Even though effective drugs can be prescribed in specialty behavioral health or primary care facilities, many patients still forego support, citing barriers such as:
Stigma
Privacy concerns
Cost
Provider shortages
Lack of transportation
Telehealth can help eliminate nearly all of these barriers and is being explored for AUD treatment initiation. In fact, a 2024 study shared that while most medication for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) initiations still happen in person, telemedicine could play an important role in getting individuals the treatment they need.
Even further, telehealth can help patients maintain treatment adherence. Substance use treatment typically involves regular visits, which can be difficult for people juggling jobs, families, etc.
Virtual care, though, makes patient follow-up much more manageable. As the American Medical Association (AMA) stated, “telehealth [is] a lifeline for patients [...and is] definitely part of the future of care for patients with substance-use disorders.”
4. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) could promote recovery
Remote patient monitoring, or RPM, is often thought of for observing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. However, this telehealth format may also have a place in alcohol use disorder.
For example, one study reviewed the influence of wireless breathalyzers on treatment motivation and self-efficacy for patients diagnosed with AUD in an outpatient treatment facility.
Researchers found that the electronic breathalyzer, which measured blood alcohol concentration levels) acted as a commitment device, thus encouraging people to stay on track. Participants even remarked that having the device helped them prove their sobriety to family members and avoid alcohol because they knew their test was coming up.
More research is needed, but it’s certainly possible that RPM could help prevent relapse.
Telehealth can be used to treat AUD, but it's still in its early stages
With alcoholism potentially on the rise, it’s more critical than ever to find ways to expand patients' access to care. Fortunately, telehealth’s convenience makes it possible to reach patients who may otherwise avoid treatment. With the increasing demand for AUD therapies and virtual care's ability to minimize barriers and reduce costs, organizations have the potential to help more people via virtual care solutions.
At OpenLoop, we provide the white-label telehealth infrastructure that serves as the building blocks for scalable, customized virtual care pathways. No matter what conditions you treat, our modular technology and back-end support give you everything you need to build, launch, and grow your virtual care offerings with confidence.
Our full suite of white-labeled virtual care services includes:
Interested in learning more? Contact us today!