Summary:
- Remote alcohol monitoring can improve recovery plan outcomes.
- Soberlink is a convenient tool that is easy to introduce during any stage of treatment or recovery.
- Real-time intervention helps keep patients accountable.
- Aftercare is essential during the first year for anyone recovering from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
The main advantage of including remote alcohol monitoring into recovery plans is that it improves client outcomes. Although some individuals may feel apprehensive being so transparent, alcohol monitoring systems are often great accountability tools that help promote sobriety while rebuilding trust with others. Remote alcohol monitoring provides documented proof that clients aren’t drinking without the need for invasive lab testing. Additionally, scheduled alcohol monitoring tests also help to empower clients who no longer feel pressured to convince those around them of their progress. For Treatment Professionals, there are numerous benefits to incorporating remote alcohol monitoring into a Treatment Plan, namely, being able to intervene in real-time when or if a patient has a slip or relapses.
Monitoring Improves Outcomes
According to a study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) requires a chronic illness management approach to treatment and recovery plans. Regular alcohol monitoring offers a useful indication of how well a patient is controlling the disease. Due to a genetic vulnerability and the brain changes that tend to occur with frequent or heavy alcohol use, those with AUD often need further support and structure following treatment. The recovery process is not linear, and consistent management is often necessary to ensure better outcomes for patients.
Although the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that most individuals diagnosed with AUD do recover, they also advise that setbacks are common during treatment. The combination of behavioral therapy and medication as treatment can be very effective, but relapses can become more prevalent once treatment stops. In this case, patients need help to remain accountable for their actions. This is why Soberlink‘s remote alcohol monitoring system is so effective. Studies show that consistent remote monitoring is beneficial for patients; 93% felt the Soberlink system held them accountable. Additionally, this accountability leads to more favorable recovery outcomes overall.
How to Introduce Alcohol Monitoring
There is no one-size-fits-all approach in recovery, and thus, what works for one individual may not work for another. However, it may be beneficial to educate patients on the benefits of remote alcohol monitoring, especially if they are struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder.
Many Treatment Professionals agree, Soberlink is an excellent alternative to in-person lab or random testing. Designed with ease-of-use in mind, the comprehensive system allows clients to manage their own testing schedules, with results sent in real-time to their Treatment Provider and/or Recovery Circle, helping further promote and maintain accountability. With Soberlink, clients can customize their testing schedule to make sure that it suits their lifestyle. Similarly, the process of testing two to three times a day can help clients establish a routine that manages their AUD while rebuilding trust with loved ones.
Introducing Soberlink into a recovery plan is simple and can be done during any stage of the treatment or recovery process. With an in-house Compliance Department and a team of dedicated Business Development Reps, Soberlink walks clients and clinicians through the set-up process from the comfort of their own home or facility. Support Agents can also help evaluate events, should there ever be concern over a possible slip or relapse.
For Treatment Professionals, an added benefit is Soberlink’s Advanced Reporting capabilities. Advanced Reporting supports long-term recovery by providing easy-to-read summaries that allow Recovery Circles and Treatment Professionals to quickly draw conclusions about the Monitored Client’s recovery journey and intervene if necessary. Utilizing enhanced Client Detail Reports offers clinicians patient insights that may not have been easily identifiable using a different method.
Real-Time Intervention
Perhaps the most significant benefit to remote alcohol monitoring is that it allows for real-time intervention. Since clients’ results can be sent to their Treatment Provider, family, friends, and Recovery Circle, it allows for added accountability should a relapse or slip ever occur. The real-time updates that these parties receive provide an incentive to keep most clients on track and committed to maintaining their sobriety.
This type of support and accountability can be supremely beneficial for those struggling with AUD, especially during early recovery. Suppose a test were to come back positive. In that case, either a Treatment Provider or loved one can intervene to help reevaluate the current Treatment Plan to make any adjustments or necessary modifications. Further, rather than treating a slip or relapse as a moral failing, non-compliant tests offer the support system an opportunity to provide positive reinforcement that can motivate the patient to abstain from drinking and embrace their new healthy habits.
Alcohol Monitoring as Aftercare
For most patients, staying sober during treatment is relatively simple when compared to the recovery process. As a result, continued care programs are an essential part of Aftercare when it comes to AUD. The most common reason for Aftercare is the need for accountability as patients build up resilience while still dealing with daily life stressors. Remote alcohol monitoring supports this while also helping patients establish healthy habits that will sustain them throughout recovery.
The Soberlink system consists of a professional-grade, remote breathalyzer with wireless connectivity, facial recognition, tamper detection, and real-time reports, helping clients maintain their sobriety while rebuilding trust with their support system. However, it also behaves as an empowerment tool for individuals feeling defeated by their past substance abuse or AUD. This system has helped thousands of clients regain control of their life during early recovery and has aided countless Treatment Professionals looking to modernize their practice.
With a team of dedicated professionals committed to offering the best user experience for those in alcohol recovery, Treatment Professionals can rest assured their patients are in good hands. Trust the system used by thousands of clinicians nationwide and consider modernizing your practice today. Implementation is easy, and playing a role in your patients’ improved outcomes is priceless.
