Patient-provider e-mail communication as an adjunctive tool in addiction medicine

Frequent electronic mail communication between patients and their addiction specialist can be utilized as an adjunct in the treatment of alcohol or substance dependency. Selected patients benefit from mandatory daily electronic mail communications with their provider through enhanced accountability, frequent self-assessment, deterrents to isolation, and a sense of continuous access to care. Participants have found the experience easy and enjoyable and all have maintained continuous sobriety. We present our experience using this modality as a series of illustrative case reports and a discussion of the implications of using electronic mail with patients in addiction medicine.