Telehealth among substance using justice‐involved persons on community supervision: Benefits, challenges, and suggestions for future use

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to understand the uses of telehealth with justice‐involved adults under community supervision with substance use problems, including their experiences during the pandemic. Methods Structured interviews were administered among 17 justice‐involved adults under community supervision about their experiences with telehealth services to treat substance use disorders. Thematic coding was used for the analysis. Results We identified 5 primary themes: (1) knowledge about and experiences with telehealth services during the pandemic; (2) telehealth services available; (3) service changes during the pandemic; and (4) individual motivations around treatment‐seeking behavior. Conclusion Overall, our findings reveal that many individuals on probation or parole appreciate having access to telehealth and found that modality convenient for counseling services. Findings shed light on participants' understanding of telehealth, their experiences in using the modality, and how this modality may serve their needs in other ways. External and internal barriers to accessing telehealth are also discussed.