This brief reviews activities undertaken by states to expand the use of telehealth for justice-involved individuals with SUDs during the COVID-19 pandemic, share lessons learned, and highlight considerations for Governors who wish to leverage telehealth services to increase access to SUD treatment for those involved in the justice system.
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the health outcomes of individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). At its onset, the pandemic disrupted access to much-needed in-patient treatment options; social distancing measures and drug supply chain difficulties further isolated individuals and often led to riskier drug use behaviors, such as buying drugs off the street and using them alone. The pandemic exacerbated the already rising number of overdose deaths, contributing to more than 100,000 deaths in the 12-month period ending in April 2021.
Recognizing the need to improve health care service delivery during the pandemic, federal and state governments acted to expand access and remove barriers to telehealth services for individuals receiving treatment for SUDs. These actions included loosening restrictions for the prescription of medications for opioid use…
