The Role of Telehealth in Modern Addiction Recovery
On September 15, 2025, The Recovery Hub launched its new Telehealth Program, expanding access to addiction treatment in ways that meet the realities of modern life. In partnership with Agape Health & Wellness, which provides psychiatric care and mental health therapy, the program takes a fully integrated approach to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, blending convenience, accessibility, and clinical expertise. This launch represents a broader movement in behavioral health toward innovative care models that prioritize both effectiveness and accessibility.
The Growing Role of Telehealth in Addiction Care
Addiction recovery is rarely straightforward. It requires comprehensive support addressing not only substance use itself but also co-occurring mental health disorders, medication needs, and ongoing relapse prevention. For decades, these services were almost exclusively delivered in person, often creating barriers such as transportation challenges, geographic distance, stigma, or scheduling conflicts. Telehealth has emerged as a solution to many of these obstacles, making it possible for clients to connect with licensed professionals from the privacy of their homes.
The evidence supporting telehealth in addiction treatment is significant. The number of U.S. facilities offering telemedicine for SUD treatment rose dramatically in recent years, from 27.5% in 2019 to 58.6% in 2020 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2021). Engagement has also improved: before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 3.3% of patients initiated telehealth treatment, but this climbed to 15.0% during the early pandemic months, while ongoing engagement increased from 7.4% to 45.9% (Palzes et al., 2023). For opioid use disorder, retention has been particularly promising. One study found that just 3.8% of patients who started buprenorphine treatment via telehealth discontinued care within six months, compared to 9.7% of those seen in traditional office settings (OHSU, 2024).
Benefits and Considerations
These findings underscore how telehealth removes barriers and enhances recovery outcomes. Clients can receive therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management without traveling long distances or missing work, and the added privacy can help reduce stigma. Many people who might otherwise avoid seeking treatment find telehealth to be a more approachable entry point.
Challenges do remain. Reliable internet access, private spaces for sessions, and comfort with technology are not universal. In certain cases, such as acute withdrawal or medical complications, in-person care is still necessary. Regulatory frameworks for telehealth prescribing of controlled substances also continue to evolve, requiring treatment programs to balance flexibility with compliance (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2025). Nonetheless, the overall direction is clear: telehealth has permanently expanded the toolkit for addiction recovery.
A Fully Integrated Approach at The Recovery Hub
Against this backdrop, the Recovery Hub’s new telehealth program offers a model of integration that addresses the full spectrum of client needs. In collaboration with Agape Health & Wellness, the program connects clients with psychiatric providers who can evaluate, diagnose, and manage mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma—conditions that often co-occur with substance use disorders. Clients also gain access to licensed therapists for individual and group sessions, using evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.
By combining addiction treatment, psychiatric care, and therapy into one coordinated telehealth framework, the program reduces fragmentation that often undermines recovery. Clients no longer need to navigate multiple providers or systems on their own; instead, they experience a streamlined and holistic treatment journey that adapts to their needs. This approach reflects best practices in addiction care, where integration and continuity have been shown to improve engagement and outcomes (Kamma et al., 2023).
What Clients Can Expect
When clients begin with the Recovery Hub’s telehealth program, they complete a comprehensive intake process that includes psychiatric screening, substance use assessment, and the development of a personalized care plan. Depending on their needs, they may participate in therapy sessions, group programs, psychiatric medication management, or relapse prevention planning. Follow-up appointments and ongoing check-ins help ensure continuity, while support systems are available to assist with technology, scheduling, or other barriers.
Looking Ahead
Telehealth is a transformation in how recovery is delivered. It allows care to reach people rather than requiring people to reach care, reduces disparities in access, and strengthens engagement, which is one of the most important predictors of long-term recovery. By partnering with Agape Health & Wellness and offering a coordinated system of addiction, psychiatric, and therapeutic services, the Recovery Hub is redefining what accessible, client-centered recovery can look like.
For individuals seeking recovery in Minnesota, this program represents an opportunity to overcome barriers and connect with the care they need. As more people embrace the possibilities of telehealth, integrated programs like this will help set the standard for effective, modern addiction treatment.
References
Health Resources and Services Administration. (2025, July 29). Tele-treatment for substance use disorders. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-for-behavioral-health/tele-treatment-for-substance-use-disorders
Kamma, H. K., et al. (2023). The efficacy of telepsychiatry in addiction patients. Journal of Addiction Research and Therapy. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10213379
Oregon Health & Science University. (2024, September 17). Telehealth boosts retention of people on buprenorphine in addiction treatment. https://news.ohsu.edu/2024/09/17/telehealth-boosts-retention-of-people-on-buprenorphine-in-addiction-treatment
Palzes, V. A., et al. (2023). Overall and telehealth addiction treatment utilization by age, race, socioeconomic status. JAMA Health Forum. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2804987
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021, December 29). Telemedicine services in substance use and mental health treatment facilities. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/telemedicine-services
