The journal of behavioral health services & research
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J Behav Health Serv Res · Oct 2019
Telepsychiatry: an Innovative Approach to Addressing the Opioid Crisis.
The opioid epidemic faced by the USA is a complex public health crisis, with staggering loss of life and overwhelming social, health, and economic costs. Despite the rising need for medication-assisted treatment, individuals struggling with opioid use continue to face multiple barriers hindering their access to care, particularly in rural areas. ⋯ As the implementation of telepsychiatry continues to expand, this method of healthcare delivery offers significant opportunities to overcome several barriers to access patients with opioid use disorder face. While addressing the opioid crisis will require multifaceted efforts involving multiple stakeholders and different approaches, a comprehensive strategy must incorporate the adoption of telepsychiatry as an innovative approach to overcoming barriers to treatment and enhancing access to care.