Where Do We Go From Here? The Delivery of Addiction Treatment in a Post-COVID World.

Abstract

Many healthcare institutions across the nation experienced significant disruptions in addiction treatment services as a result of COVID-19. As restrictions now begin to loosen, there is an opportunity to transition towards a new treatment structure informed by the experience from both the current public health crisis and precrisis operations. However, there is currently limited information on how best to do so, leaving many providers and specialty programs searching for answers. The permanent integration of recent regulatory changes into routine clinical practice, specifically regarding prescribing flexibility and use of telehealth, is yet to be determined, but implementation experience highlights the adaptability within this field of medicine. Providing patients with a spectrum of care that is both clinically informed and technologically supported should be at the forefront as we settle into a postcrisis world.