Primary care doctors often find themselves on the front lines, so to speak, of healthcare. In fact, of the roughly one billion physician office visits in the United States, 50.3% are made to primary care physicians.

While primary care doctors are often well-equipped to handle a variety of illnesses and ailments, one area where there can be challenges is the treatment of addiction. Limited addiction treatment resources means patients must often go outside the general medical system for support, leading to costlier and less efficient outcomes.

However, technology advances are poised to change this. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Jill FitzGerald, senior vice president of clinical operations of Confidant Health, a virtual therapy, psychiatry and addiction treatment platform. As she explains, tech can empower primary care doctors to take a more active role in partnering with specialists to achieve effective addiction recovery.

Working the Front Lines

“Primary care doctors are the people we go to for everyday health issues, from the common cold to diabetes. They have been trained to address these challenges with their patients — but they’re not specialists who can handle every ailment,” says FitzGerald.

“This is especially true of addiction recovery, which isn’t usually taught in medical school. When a patient is struggling with a substance use disorder, their first instinct might be to go to their physician, only to be disappointed when their physician can’t help.”

To that end, individuals who need addiction recovery support are best served when their primary care doctor partners with specialists who are experts in the field, who understand both the mental health needs and medical treatments that may be needed by these patients.

The problem, however, is that there are far fewer addiction professionals than are needed. In fact, the HRSA projects that by 2030, the United States will have a shortage of over 24,000 behavioral health providers. Patients in rural areas or in a lower socioeconomic class are especially likely to have trouble accessing addiction recovery professionals.

In 2021, 61.2 million Americans age 12 or older used “illicit drugs,” with 46.3 million meeting the criteria for having a substance use disorder. Most troubling, however, is the fact that 94% of those with a substance use disorder did not get any type of treatment, with geographic limitations and other challenges often playing a key role.

Technology as a Key Support

“Addiction recovery technology can be incredibly effective at helping fill the gap in treatment,” FitzGerald says. “Web-based apps can provide access to virtual consultations with addiction recovery specialists, allowing them to meet with counselors at the time and place that works for them. Giving patients the flexibility to communicate with a specialist through video calls, texting or online messaging can help them feel more comfortable about seeking treatment, while removing many of the barriers that limit access in the first place.”

Many of these tools also provide access to group therapy, while some even offer access to remote drug testing, or allow specialists to write prescriptions for app users based on their recovery needs. “I think the real value of these tools is that they can offer the same level of personalized care that people expect when they visit their primary care doctor,” FitzGerald says.

“Getting specialist-level support in such a convenient manner can be truly transformative in helping patients succeed on the path to addiction recovery.”

Making the Connection

So how do primary care doctors take advantage of these resources?

“Even when a primary care doctor isn’t equipped to address addiction or mental health challenges themselves, they can still point their patients in the right direction,” FitzGerald says.

“Many of these tools have addiction support specialists on staff who are trained to help people effectively address their substance use disorder through cognitive behavioral therapy and other methods. This way, patients get access to specialists who are better equipped to guide them on their journey to recovery. But they usually still need their primary care doctor to show them what resources are available.”

To that end, FitzGerald believes that while primary care doctors aren’t necessarily obligated to become experts in addiction treatment themselves, they do have responsibility for understanding which specialists or technology resources would be the most effective for their patients. Providing a trusted recommendation to a specialist, or for an app or Telehealth solution, can ensure that patients are able to access a crucial resource they might have otherwise overlooked.

Notably, primary care doctors, specialists and tech tools should continue to work in sync throughout the patient’s recovery. Studies have found that pairing these resources has helped improve appointment adherence, rates of smoking cessation and other positive outcomes among patients.

Achieving Better Outcomes

“Primary care doctors, specialists and addiction recovery tech are all valuable resources that can do so much for individuals with substance use disorders,” FitzGerald says.

“To truly counter issues such as accessibility and stigma, bringing these resources together can be a powerful way to ensure that patients get the personalized care they need, no matter where they live or what they’re dealing with. By taking advantage of these additional resources, primary care doctors can be better equipped to support the overall well-being of their patients.”

The potential benefits are clear — now, it is up to health clinics to ensure they are identifying partnership opportunities and then making the most of these resources.