What's the best telehealth program for treating opioid or alcohol addiction?

There isn’t one objectively “best” telehealth program—the right choice depends heavily on whether you’re treating opioid use disorder (OUD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), or both, and whether medication is part of the plan.

For telehealth, I’d prioritize a program that provides FDA-approved medication + counseling/behavioral support + ongoing medical monitoring, rather than a service that only provides therapy. SAMHSA specifically recommends this whole-person approach.Samhsa+1

If opioids are the main problem

Look for a telehealth program that can prescribe buprenorphine. Federal rules now allow appropriately qualified clinicians to initiate buprenorphine through audio or video telehealth, subject to applicable requirements and state law.Samhsa+1

If alcohol is the main problem

Look for a program offering medication management with options such as naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram, along with counseling. Naltrexone is particularly notable because it is FDA-approved for both alcohol and opioid use disorders.Samhsa+1

If you have both alcohol and opioid problems

I'd specifically look for a dual-diagnosis telehealth addiction program capable of treating both conditions medically—not just an online counseling service. Naltrexone can treat both, while buprenorphine is an important option for OUD; the appropriate medication depends on your circumstances.Samhsa+1

A few things I'd compare before enrolling:

• Whether they prescribe buprenorphine for OUD.
• Whether they treat alcohol and opioid use simultaneously.
• Whether counseling/therapy is included.
• Whether they accept your insurance and what medication costs separately.
• How quickly you can see a clinician.
• Whether they can arrange lab work, urine testing, primary care, and higher levels of care when needed.
• Whether they provide or prescribe naloxone for opioid overdose prevention.
• Whether they serve Tennessee and can prescribe there.

If you tell me (1) opioid, alcohol, or both, (2) your insurance or “self-pay,” and (3) whether you want medication such as Suboxone/buprenorphine, I can search the currently available telehealth programs and give you a factual side-by-side comparison of the options that serve Tennessee.Samhsa

Look for a telehealth program that can prescribe buprenorphine. Federal rules now allow appropriately qualified clinicians to initiate buprenorphine through audio or video telehealth, subject to applicable requirements and state law.Samhsa+1

If alcohol is the main problem

Look for a program offering medication management with options such as naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram, along with counseling. Naltrexone is particularly notable because it is FDA-approved for both alcohol and opioid use disorders.Samhsa+1

If you have both alcohol and opioid problems

I'd specifically look for a dual-diagnosis telehealth addiction program capable of treating both conditions medically—not just an online counseling service. Naltrexone can treat both, while buprenorphine is an important option for OUD; the appropriate medication depends on your circumstances.

There isn’t one universally “best” telehealth program. The right choice depends heavily on whether the main problem is opioids, alcohol, or both, and on whether you need medication, counseling, or both.

If opioids are the main problem

Look for a telehealth program that can prescribe buprenorphine (Suboxone or equivalent) and provides ongoing follow-up and behavioral support. Medication treatment for opioid use disorder is substantially more than an app or counseling-only program, and HHS specifically identifies telehealth as an effective way to improve access and retention in medication treatment.