It’s time to expand access to evidence-based addiction treatment

Regarding the article “MAT underutilized by hospitals in treating opioid addiction (ModernHealthcare.com, June 19),” the Annals of Internal Medicine study showing only about one-third of studied patients seen for opioid overdose in Massachusetts were given medication treatment is illustrative of the need for a dramatic shift in how we treat addiction.

Medication-assisted treatment has been shown to help patients with addiction involving opioid use transition into remission and recovery by mitigating the agonizing symptoms of withdrawal and reducing cravings. Research has consistently shown that patients with addiction involving opioid use who are treated with appropriate FDA-approved medications are less likely to use again and overdose than patients who undergo psychosocial treatment alone.

Medication treatment represents a major milestone in addiction care, and Congress must move swiftly to remove barriers to its effective utilization. Fortunately, a bill championed by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and others would expand access to pharmacotherapy by increasing the initial cap on the number of patients certain providers can treat with buprenorphine and make permanent the buprenorphine prescribing authority of trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

While it’s impossible to say how many of the 42,000 opioid-related deaths last year could have been prevented with a higher utilization of these medications, it’s time to expand access to evidence-based addiction treatment. For addiction involving opioids, that means access to ongoing medication treatment.

Dr. Kelly J. Clark President American Society of Addiction Medicine