Accessing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Online

Description:
With the advent of the Internet in the mid-90s, the number of available options for finding addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery support services has grown exponentially. Nowadays one can search online and instantly find an extensive list of materials and providers, locate them immediately on an interactive map, read testimonials of people who are struggling with similar issues or have already overcome them, and find support in a sea of chat rooms and Web sites. Today's youth, in particular, are more technologically savvy than ever. Youth-oriented social Web sites can serve as a forum for developing skills and abilities to stay away from addictive substances, for realizing one has a problem, and for offering avenues toward unprecedented treatment methods such as "e-therapy" and "virtual support groups." This program will highlight the state of recovery in the 21st century and examine how technology has revamped the field of substance use disorder prevention and addiction treatment.

     

    

Host:
Ivette Torres, Associate Director for Consumer Affairs, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).