Lionrock Establishes September 22 as National Online Recovery Day to Help 42 Million Affected by Substance Abuse Find Support Online

Lionrock, the leader in telehealth services for substance use disorders (SUDs), today announced September 22 as National Online Recovery Day, created to drive widespread awareness among the 42 million people impacted by SUDs that online recovery services are available, are accessible from anywhere, and are completely private.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200915005284/en/

National Online Recovery Day Panel (Graphic: Business Wire)

National Online Recovery Day takes place annually during National Recovery Month. It is the first national health awareness day focused on the benefits and advantages of telehealth services for any health issue.

“We created National Online Recovery Day as a platform for the recovery field and community to spotlight the amazing online resources and services available and to urge people who need help with a substance abuse problem to take the first step towards recovery,” said Lionrock CEO, Peter Loeb. “Lionrock has been treating substance use disorders via secure video conference for a decade and we know it works. And now, amidst a global pandemic, access to online recovery is even more critical for millions of people.”

According to a report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 24.7% of young adults and 19.5% of adults ages 25 to 44 started or increased substance use to cope with pandemic-related stress or emotions in June, with the Black and Hispanic populations and essential workers disproportionately affected. The report concludes that expanded use of telehealth, an effective means of delivering treatment for mental health conditions, including depression, SUD, and suicidal ideation, might reduce COVID-19-related mental health consequences.

Even absent a global health crisis, online recovery treatment and long-term support programs are the best solutions for many people suffering from SUDs. Getting help online removes most of the barriers that prevent people struggling with SUDs from seeking treatment, including shame and stigma, and access to services. Online therapy sessions and meetings are completely private, flexible, and accessible from anywhere. And, online recovery works; teletherapy is just as effective as in-person therapy, or even superior in some cases, according to extensive research by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

To honor National Online Recovery Day, Lionrock is hosting a sober influencer panel discussion live on Facebook on September 22 at 2:00pm PT. Join Lionrock co-founder Ashley Loeb Blassingame and guests Gabrielle Bernstein, New York Times best-selling author; Danny Trejo, actor, restaurateur and drug counselor; and Jodie Sweetin, actor, author and podcast host; for an interactive discussion about getting clean and staying connected. Tune in at facebook.com/LionrockRecovery.

To join the conversation online, Lionrock encourages the recovery community and professionals in the field to share their online recovery experiences, whether with treatment, support groups or other online resources, using #NationalOnlineRecoveryDay.

For more information about National Online Recovery Day, including how to get involved, personal stories of recovery, and online recovery resources, visit nationalonlinerecoveryday.com/.

About Lionrock

Founded in 2010, Lionrock is the leading telehealth provider of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery services in the United States. Lionrock provides evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, at the Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Outpatient levels of care, including medication-assisted treatment, and continuing care. Lionrock is accredited by the Joint Commission, employs master-level licensed counselors in most states, and accepts most private health insurance. Lionrock also offers the recovery community free support group meetings, both 12 step and alternative, recognizing that recovery is a lifetime pursuit.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200915005284/en/