The opioid crisis continues to affect millions of Americans, with over 80,000 overdose deaths occurring annually. Yet despite the availability of proven, lifesaving medications for opioid use disorder, only about 20% of individuals who need treatment actually receive it.
Part of the problem is that traditionally, treatment has required frequent in-person visits, which can be challenging for people juggling work, childcare, transportation, or living in rural areas with limited options.
That’s where telehealth comes in. What started as a pandemic workaround has become something much bigger: a real solution for people who need help but can’t make traditional treatment fit into their lives. Programs like Eleanor Health show what’s possible when you combine medication, counseling, and peer support through secure video appointments. Research shows that virtual opioid treatment can achieve outcomes comparable to in-person care for many patients, particularly when medication and ongoing support are part of treatment.
Telehealth opioid treatment combines medication, counseling, and recovery support through secure video visits. People meet with licensed providers remotely, receive prescriptions through local pharmacies, and participate in therapy and peer support without needing frequent in-person appointments.
– Appointments take place through secure video visits
– Medications can be prescribed and monitored remotely
– Therapy and peer support are delivered virtually
– Care teams coordinate treatment and follow-up
– In-person care is used when clinically necessary
Telehealth opioid treatment isn’t just regular appointments moved to Zoom. It’s a full approach to care that addresses opioid use disorder from every angle through virtual platforms. At Eleanor Health, this model works across 15 states, meeting people wherever they are in their recovery.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone (including Vivitrol) help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Eleanor Health providers prescribe these medication assisted treatments during virtual appointments, with prescriptions sent electronically to your pharmacy or delivered directly to your home.
Counseling and Therapy: Virtual therapy sessions with licensed addiction counselors use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing. These sessions help you understand what’s driving your addiction, build healthier ways to cope, and work through issues like anxiety, depression, or trauma that often go hand-in-hand with substance use.
Peer Support Services: This is where you connect with peer recovery specialists who’ve been through addiction themselves. Eleanor Health’s Community Recovery Partners run one-on-one sessions and group meetings, creating real community even when everyone’s logging in from different places.
The process at programs like Eleanor Health is designed to be straightforward, with most people able to schedule their first appointment within two days or even the same day.
Your journey begins with a judgment-free phone call. A care specialist will ask about what’s going on with your health, your current substance use, your insurance, and anything making it hard to get care. This isn’t an interrogation; it’s a conversation to ensure the program fits your needs.
Your first appointment happens via secure video conferencing from wherever you feel comfortable. This 45-60 minute visit includes:
Medical Assessment: A licensed provider talks through your substance use history, your overall health, and what you’ve tried before. They’ll ask about your goals for treatment, which might be complete abstinence, reducing use, or regaining stability. Eleanor Health isn’t an abstinence-only program. Your goals are what matter.
Creating Your Treatment Plan: Your provider builds a plan specifically for you. This might include medication for withdrawal and cravings, therapy appointments, peer support connections, or working with your regular doctor if needed.
Medication Initiation: If it makes sense, your provider can prescribe medications during this first visit. For buprenorphine, you’ll get clear instructions on when to take your first dose, usually after you’ve felt some withdrawal, to avoid making things worse. Your provider will walk you through what to expect and how to reach the team if you have questions.
After your initial appointment, treatment continues with regular check-ins including medication management appointments, individual therapy sessions, group therapy or peer support meetings, psychiatric care for co-occurring conditions, and case management support for practical needs. All services are accessible virtually through your computer or smartphone, with in-person options available at select Eleanor Health locations.
When telehealth expanded during the pandemic, researchers finally had data to study how well virtual opioid treatment works. The results have been extremely encouraging.
Research from the National Institutes of Health found that people with opioid use disorder who received telehealth services during the pandemic were more likely to stay on their medications and less likely to overdose.
Most significantly, research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the expanded availability of telehealth services during the pandemic was associated with a lowered likelihood of fatal drug overdose among Medicare beneficiaries. When coupled with medication-assisted treatment, telehealth proved to be not just convenient, but potentially lifesaving.
Virtual opioid treatment can be particularly valuable for specific situations:
Working Parents: For someone juggling children and a full-time job, traditional treatment requiring multiple weekly in-person appointments can feel impossible. Telehealth allows therapy sessions during lunch breaks and medication check-ins in the evening, making treatment fit into an already packed schedule.
Rural Communities: When the nearest addiction treatment center is hours away, transportation becomes a major barrier. Virtual treatment eliminates travel time while maintaining access to specialized care. For people in tight-knit communities, the privacy of receiving treatment from home can also reduce concerns about stigma.
Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions: Opioid use disorder often develops alongside depression, anxiety, or trauma. Integrated telehealth programs can coordinate all aspects of care through one platform, with providers who can address both substance use and mental health needs together, rather than requiring separate appointments with different providers in different locations.
Yes. Current federal regulations allow healthcare providers to prescribe buprenorphine via telehealth, following a clinical assessment. Your virtual provider does a full assessment over video and can legally prescribe medications for opioid use disorder. Injectable medications like Vivitrol might need coordination with a local pharmacy or clinic, but your main treatment stays virtual.
Programs like Eleanor Health offer flexible care levels. If you need more support, treatment can ramp up with more frequent appointments or connections to local resources. If you’re in crisis or need medical detox, your virtual care team coordinates with local emergency services or inpatient facilities.
Your provider checks in regularly about how you’re responding to the medication, any side effects, and changes in your cravings or use. Some programs use at-home drug testing kits that you complete during a video session. This isn’t about surveillance; it’s about making sure the treatment is working and you’re safe.
Most major insurance plans cover telehealth addiction treatment—Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, and many Medicaid plans. Eleanor Health accepts most major insurance and can check your coverage before your first appointment. Even if your plan is out-of-network, many programs work with your insurance to keep costs down. Often, the first appointment costs little or nothing.
Success with telehealth depends on more than just showing up for appointments:
Create a Dedicated Space: Having a consistent, private space for virtual appointments helps you focus and signals this time is important.
Treat Virtual Appointments Like In-Person Ones: Set reminders, clear your schedule, and prepare for sessions. This mindset helps you take treatment seriously and get the most from each session.
Build Connections: The relationships you build with your provider, therapist, and peers are real and meaningful. Be honest, ask questions, and let yourself be vulnerable. Recovery is built on connection, whether in person or through a screen.
Utilize Between-Session Support: Most virtual programs offer resources you can access anytime, like educational materials, meditation apps, crisis hotlines, or messaging with your care team.
Stay Engaged with Your Support Network: Virtual peer support groups, online recovery communities, and local support groups all strengthen your recovery foundation.
The evidence shows telehealth works just as well as traditional in-person care, and for many people, it works better. Programs like Eleanor Health are removing barriers like transportation, scheduling conflicts, and stigma, opening doors for people who might never have accessed treatment otherwise.
If you’ve been considering treatment but felt it was out of reach, or if you’ve tried before but couldn’t maintain the commitment, telehealth might be the solution you’ve been looking for. Recovery is possible, and increasingly, it’s possible from wherever you are.
If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid use, Eleanor Health provides virtual, judgment-free support across 15 states. Call (866) 465-0590 or contact us online to speak with a recovery specialist today.
CDC. “U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease Almost 27% in 2024.” NCHS Pressroom, 21 May 2025, www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/releases/20250514.html.
“Increased Use of Telehealth Services and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Associated with Reduced Risk for Fatal Overdose.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Apr. 2023, www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0329-covid-opioids.html.
McNeely, Jennifer, et al. “How Physician Workforce Shortages Are Hampering the Response to the Opioid Crisis.” Psychiatric Services, vol. 73, no. 5, 15 Sept. 2021, p. appi.ps.2020005, https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000565.
NIH. “Telehealth Improves Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.” National Institutes of Health (NIH), 26 Sept. 2022, www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/telehealth-improves-treatment-opioid-use-disorder.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Treatment decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare provider.
