E-Therapy as an alternative to conventional substance abuse prevention and treatment

The widespread use of electronic forms of communication has permeated many aspects of American daily life. Use of e-mail, instant messaging, telephones, videoconferencing, and other forms of communication have, in many instances, replaced face-to-face conversations, meetings, and conferences. More recent is the use of electronic forms of communication to seek and receive medical treatment (e.g., Alleman, 2002; Darkins & Cary, 2000). While substance abuse service delivery through electronic means (also known as E-Therapy) is not used widely, experts predict that its use will increase rapidly over the next several years (e.g., Mallen & Vogel, 2005), as it can be used as a method of prevention, a form of direct care, and an adjunct to treatment.

In 2005, more than one-third of National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) respondents in need of substance abuse treatment reported that they did not receive services due to cost. Stigma and access were also identified as barriers to treatment. E-Therapy may alleviate many of the barriers associated with receiving substance abuse treatment, as it allows for the provision of services with greater flexibility in terms of time and location (e.g., Yager, 2002), and lower cost (e.g., Gibson, Morley & Romeo-Wolff, 2002). This paper will discuss the potential of E-Therapy to provide substance abuse prevention and treatment services to underserved populations, including persons of color, adolescents, the elderly, and persons of low socioeconomic status. In particular, the benefits and challenges associated with providing E-Therapy, and considerations for implementation with these populations will be addressed.