Articles

There are several reasons that individuals will delay or decline treatment for drug addiction, both legitimate and illegitimate. Some want drug treatment and don’t have time, and others are simply resisting the urgings of family members with excuses. Telemedicine could be the solution for many who want drug treatment for themselves or for loved ones.

The trouble starts with the first use of a drug, whether it is marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription drugs, or heroin. Future drug addicts feel a sense of freedom at that time that leads them to further use. Drug tolerance creates a need for larger doses, more often, to get that first feeling again. When drug abuse leads to relationship, family, and employment problems, some individuals will seek treatment. Others will continue use into addiction whether or not they think they need drug treatment.

For those who accept that they need treatment, life factors may inhibit their ability to attend individual and group sessions. Time, travel, and the stigma of being discovered as a drug addict are the major issues. The other group who doesn’t want or think they need treatment will make excuses of the same nature, but only to avoid the issue.

The last couple of days in drug detox can be tense for individuals who want to continue treatment, but see obstacles as mentioned above. They usually have no sick or vacation time accrued to take time off of work for residential treatment, so they will look into outpatient treatment. Then family members often object to the time away from home to attend sessions. After all, it is now time to stop neglecting the family.

Interestingly enough, the debaters on these issues switch sides when a drug addict is resisting drug treatment. Family members tend to urge them to get intensive residential treatment and take all the time they need. Employers may mandate drug treatment, and even pay for it depending on the importance of the employee to the company.

With these time factors in mind, telemedicine is a good solution for the first group and for family members and employers of the second group. Travel time is eliminated from regular weekly sessions, saving patients and family members several hours each week in many cases. Sessions can be attended from work or home by video conference, using a computer with a webcam and internet connection.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides telemedicine for drug addiction. Our online drug treatment is delivered using the LiveVisit application, powered by MDLiveCare, over any web browser. This makes treatment convenient, accessible, and affordable. Security is important in drug treatment, so LiveVisit runs behind several layers of encryption.

Telemedicine at Tarzana Treatment Centers is not limited to drug addiction treatment. We also provide online mental health treatment and online medical care. Our goal is to see that those who need treatment can get it.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides a full array of health care services including adult and youth alcohol and drug treatment. We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 888-777-8565 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.