As society realized how dire the Covid-19 pandemic was, many health-care professionals and advocates for the addicted made dire predictions about the toll that the disease would take on this extremely vulnerable population. Because of their lack of health insurance and housing, their unstable lifestyles and pre-existing conditions, the addicted were both a cause of intense concern and a drain on groaning health-care systems. Furthermore, the stresses and triggers of life under the cloud of Covid-19, coupled with intense financial instability, and the loss of many addiction treatment options was expected to push many of those in recovery back toward substance abuse, creating more victims for the virus. While it may take years to calculate the human cost of this crisis, we can look at how governments and treatment centers have changed the way they deal with the addicted, and look forward to how the continuum of care will evolve in the coming years.
Telemedicine And Telehealth
Even before we were all worrying about droplets, many health-care systems and providers were taking a long hard look at the benefits which could be accrued from pushing more aspects of addiction treatment online. One of the key drivers of this shift has been Haven Healthcare, an ambitious start-up from Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JP Morgan Chase which aims to leverage technological innovation in order to provide more effective treatment at a significantly lower cost than most American insurers can offer. Other countries are also intrigued by the progress Haven is pursuing, and the pandemic has driven a surge in the popularity of telemedicine in China, Singapore, Australia, and Indonesia.
In many countries, measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus and ease the burden on health-care systems are actually making the lives of those in recovery easier. Many Americans are having an easier time getting the medicine they need to manage life without opioids. Rather than masses of paperwork and interviews with doctors and drug counselors who may be miles away, recovering addicts can now be interviewed online, and have their 28 day supply of medicines like buprenorphine or Subutex shipped to their homes. These changes have been sought for years, particularly by health professionals in rural areas that have been hit hard by the opioid epidemic. And even as the death toll mounted governments resisted loosening regulations on methadone and other popular opioid replacements.
“You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. This is how it needs to be – always” says Dr. Stephen Loyd, a specialist in addiction mtreatment medicine and former Drug Czar for the state of Tennessee. Many patients are now spared daily trips to a local pharmacy to ingest opioid replacements under supervision. Samantha Arsenault, a vice-president at drug treatment advocacy organization Shatterproof says “We’re seeing changes in the last six weeks that, in some cases, we’ve been advocating for a really long time, and in others, that we didn’t even really think were possible.”For Dr. Loyd, telemedicine has also allowed him a more meaningful glimpse into his patients’ lives, furthering better outcomes. “I found three patients in the past two weeks that I didn’t know were homeless or living in a car,” Loyd said. “So we’ve been able to hook them up with some housing services that we have access to.”
At Tabula Rasa Retreat, we’ve long embraced telemedicine as an essential tool in aftercare for ibogaine addiction treatment. Because the experience of ibogaine therapy is unique, we created the Ibogaine Recovery Movement as a way for those utilizing it to share with each other and grow healthy together. Since COVID struck, we’ve doubled up on our weekly sessions, providing valuable peer support to all those who have come through our doors.
Recognizing The Limits Of Online Treatment
While technology-based options can increase the accessibility of addiction treatment and are in some cases a better option, there are limits to what can be accomplished online. Many in the community bemoan the lack of face to face contact and claim that without meeting in-person it’s difficult to engage, have a sense of accountability, and maintain connection. In Indiana, calls to the state’s public addictions helpline have increased dramatically during COVID, going from 20 per week to 20 a day. As Dr. Nora Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes, “Everybody is exposed to the stress of COVID, and stress is one of the factors that leads to relapse.” Finding effective ways to deal with the stresses caused by the virus and the economic destruction it has wrought will be key in treating addiction in the post-COVID world. Whether that can be accomplished best through therapy, holistic solutions, or alternative treatments like ibogaine will need to be determined.
For those who feel the need to enter a residential treatment program as we emerge from the COVID cloud, the situation is even more dire. Many in early recovery desperately need the distraction, regimentation, and structure of residential treatment in order to deal with their cravings and learn to lead a sober life. With medical resources being monopolized by the response to the virus, and close contact banned in many jurisdictions, treatment beds are incredibly hard to come by. Even for those lucky enough to enter a residential facility, meetings, classes, and group activities are limited by the need for distancing, disinfecting, and staying safe. Governments will desperately need to increase the funding of treatment services in the wake of the pandemic, in order to ensure both accessibility and effectiveness.
At Tabula Rasa Retreat we have established a model for addiction treatment that has worked well so far. A system of checks that includes multiple tests, a period of quarantine (assessed on case by case basis), and constant vigilance and sterilization of our work-spaces is keeping our clientele safe. While we wish that we could operate as before, we know that the path forward requires us to prioritize the safety of our patients and staff above all else. We do not know when life will return to normal, but we’ll do our best to offer the full complement of our services to those who need them, no matter what. We also know that for many of those entering recovery, experiences like group therapy, in-person counselling sessions, and classes that facilitate personal and spiritual growth are essential to regaining physical and mental health. As the virus fades into a memory, we will do our utmost to find the right balance between keeping the pandemic at bay and doing everything possible to deliver effective addiction treatment. If you’re ready to experience ibogaine treatment, get in touch with us today!
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530