Patient Engagement in Providing Telehealth SUD IOP Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain a growing public health issue, with drug- and alcohol-related deaths continuing to increase. A myriad of barriers prevent many with SUDs from seeking care. Telehealth interventions are well-positioned to reduce barriers and increase engagement in SUD treatment. The SUD intensive outpatient program (IOP) is specifically designed for telehealth and offers evidenced-based care delivered by SUD professionals as well as asynchronous assignments to enhance treatment. This study explores the feasibility of providing a telehealth IOP. Methods: participant engagement, reasons for disengagement, and days of abstinence were examined using existing records from a cohort of participants between 2021 and 2023 (n = 4724). Results: Nearly 80% of participants remained engaged in the program for 30 days, and 91% attained at least 30 consecutive days of abstinence over the course of treatment. Nearly 45% demonstrated a successful response to care and no longer required IOP treatment. Those who finished the IOP completed over 70% of the asynchronous assignments. Conclusions: Results support the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering a telehealth IOP for SUDs.