Workit Health treats opioid addiction with medication like Suboxone via telehealth. How do we do it?
For a lot of people, online addiction treatment is a new concept, as is getting healthcare online in general. For the past 100+ years, if you’ve had a problem like addiction, you’ve gone away somewhere for a few months, and “dried out” or detoxed, and then come back to the world hoping that your recovery would stick.
But the 30-day spin dry solution isn’t so simple with opiate addiction. After 30, 60, or 90 days in treatment, the risk of accidental overdose is high. Escaping reality doesn’t always work when you return right back to the same situation with little support. And the costs of inpatient stays can be sky-high.
The evidence shows that medication-assisted treatment, like buprenorphine/naloxone, is the gold standard of care for opiate addiction, which is why Workit Health providers offer Suboxone in many states. Our virtual treatment programs offer accessible, science-based care even if you live in a rural area without brick-and-mortar providers or in a busy city with poor transportation options.
But online treatment is still a relatively new concept, so people have questions. Here are some common ones:
How will I talk to my medical provider online?
As a Workit Health member, you will see their provider via video appointment through our app, with a smartphone, tablet, or computer. You and your provider will be able to hear and see each other for your appointment, and then your provider will send your prescription to your local pharmacy via e-prescription. This means that in order to attend an appointment, you’ll need an internet connection, a device with a camera (smartphone, tablet, or computer), and a quiet place to talk. Follow-up appointments will also include a member of your behavioral health team and fellow Workit Health members.
Are 12-step meetings required to get Suboxone online in your program?
No. We know that a lot of programs and treatment centers require participation in a 12-step program, but we do not. We know that AA and its offshoots don’t work for everyone, and we don’t want anyone to be deterred from getting treatment.
However, this doesn’t mean we discourage folks from forging their own paths in recovery. Many of us at Workit Health have found 12-step and non-12-step support groups beneficial. We include a list of many groups that might be helpful on our Virtual Addiction Resources page under the heading “Mutual Aid Group Resources.” We also have our own, internal recovery groups that are not based in the 12-steps. In these recovery groups, Workit Health members work on their recovery together, facilitated by a member of our care team.
Is it really legal to get Suboxone prescribed online?
Yes, it is legal to receive a prescription for Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) via telemedicine from a licensed provider who is permitted to prescribe controlled substances. In fact, evidence shows that online treatment for opioid use disorder is just as effective (and in some studies, more effective) as in-person treatment. A collaborative study between the CDC, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that receiving telehealth support for opioid use disorder decreased the risk of overdose by 33%.
Are drug tests required in your program? How can you drug test via telehealth (online) appointments?
Yes, our program does use drug screening to verify that you are taking the medication we prescribe and to identify if you take anything that would be dangerous when combined with the Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) your provider prescribes. We will ship your drug tests to you at no additional cost. You will complete them and submit the results. You can choose either Video Drug Screening (VDS) or Automated Drug Screening (ADS). With VDS, you will collect your sample off-camera and then review the results live on camera with a member of the Workit Health team. With ADS, the app will walk you step-by-step through completing, photographing, and submitting your test, to later be verified by Workit Health staff. You’ll get detailed instructions on how to do these tests once you join the program.
Completing a drug screen with Workit Health is never about judging you or seeking a “gotcha” moment.
Will Suboxone make me high? Is Suboxone replacing one drug for another? I’ve heard Suboxone isn’t clean … is this true?
There is a stigma (bias) out there against using medication to treat opioid use disorder, but the evidence shows that it is the safest and most effective way to treat opiate addiction. If you feel high or mood-altered when you are on Suboxone, talk with your provider about altering your dose.
Medication for addiction treatment is not the same as addiction! It reduces the symptoms of addiction. Cravings decrease so you can focus on daily living, free of the substance you were using. Part of the definition of addiction is “continued use despite harmful consequences,” and with medication-assisted treatment, people are often able to stop creating harmful consequences in their lives as they regain clarity of thought and self-control. This is the essence of recovery.