Telehealth programs can play a critical role in addressing obstacles to recovery in small rural towns, offering accessible, judgment-free care that meets people where they are.
The struggle for connection in a small town
In one small town where Workit Health provides care, residents often find connection through community traditions—some gather at church to play card games, while others connect through the local Rotary Club or through the bonds with close friends formed in high school.
For those in recovery, however, building connection and support is much harder. The town does offer a few in-person recovery meetings, but attendance remains low. Many avoid these meetings out of fear that their participation could become known, jeopardizing their chances of finding or keeping employment in a close-knit community where privacy is sometimes scarce. The stigma surrounding addiction is pervasive, and some residents worry about the possibility of legal trouble if their struggles are exposed.
Obstacles to recovery
The rural county where this town is located ranks below average in access to addiction treatment services, paired with a higher-than-average drug overdose rate. According to state statistics, its residents also face greater social and financial vulnerability compared to other areas, highlighting the critical need for accessible, affordable care.
With only one methadone clinic within 40 miles and treatment centers in the nearest city even farther away, residents living with opioid use disorder face significant logistical challenges to accessing care. The journey itself can bring obstacles, as the route to these treatment services passes through areas where drugs are readily available, adding to the difficulty of staying on track.
Finding solutions
Despite these barriers, the community has begun to shift its perspective after losing several young lives to overdose. Parents, in particular, are becoming more open to addressing the crisis and finding ways to support those living with addiction. Individuals in recovery are also stepping up, using their personal experiences to connect those in need with care options like Workit Health.
This quiet shift marks hope for towns like this who are grappling with the weight of the opioid crisis. By leaning on its strengths—tight-knit relationships and a willingness to help one another—similar communities can find ways to bridge the gaps in care and combat the stigma that has long kept many from seeking help.
Telehealth programs like Workit Health play a critical role in these efforts, offering accessible, judgment-free care that meets people where they are—whether geographically, emotionally, or socially. In our commitment to make care even more accessible, Workit Health partners with grant funders and federal agencies to expand treatment in targeted rural communities. For more information about our grant work in rural communities, and to inquire about treatment reimbursement for individuals who are uninsured, contact grants@workithealth.com.
About this article
This article is based on the experience of one Workit Health member, and is not meant to be representative of wider rural communities. Some of the details provided have been changed to protect anonymity.
