The use of telehealth platforms to treat substance abuse has grown substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, after federal authorities loosened regulations that had restricted virtual interactions between patients and medical professionals treating addiction disorders. Now a new Senate bill would expand and make permanent the emergency actions, allowing providers to continue to expand access to treatment beyond the corona virus period. Many providers have long lobbied for such changes, believing that new technologies would enable more patients to obtain treatment and medications. Overdose deaths have spiked during the pandemic, as substance abusers face isolation and economic losses and difficulties continuing in-person treatment.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party platform committee has defeated yet another effort by progressives to add nationwide marijuana legalization to Joe Biden’s policy agenda, which instead calls instead for decriminalization, legalizing medical marijuana and letting states decide on recreational pot. It’s the second defeat for pro-pot forces within the party as Biden sticks with his more reasonable approach based on available science.
And finally, as contact tracing for COVID-19 expands across the country, a proposal has been made to add questions about mental health and substance abuse when screeners interact with people. While contact tracing has initially focused on containing the infection, it could also be used to identify people at risk from mental illness and substance abuse disorder.