US Authority Plans Massive Expansion Of Medication Access To Combat Opioid Overdose Crisis

Struggling with the opioid crisis, U.S. authorities plan to substantially expand access to medications tackling opioid addiction, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
In September, the federal government announced $1.5 billion in funding to tackle opioid overdoses, sanctions against traffickers, and increased funding for law enforcement.
Earlier this year, Distributors McKesson Corporation MCK, AmerisourceBergen Corp ABC, Cardinal Health Inc CAH, and Johnson & Johnson JNJ have agreed to finalize a proposed $26 billion settlement resolving claims by states and local governments regarding the opioid epidemic.
These funds are earmarked for use in programs tackling opioid use disorder.
But despite growing awareness of the problem, authorities face a battle to overcome a complex web of societal, legal, and financial barriers restricting access to medicines to between 5%-15% of the estimated 8 million Americans misusing opioids.
Clinicians promoting medication face strict rules. To prescribe buprenorphine, one of the most effective medications, they must apply for waivers that require them to undertake training.
Methadone is typically administered in person at specialist opioid treatment centers regulated by federal authorities.
“More than 40mn Americans have a substance use disorder, and only one out of 20 people can access care,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, the White House drug tsar leading the new approach.
Financial Times writes that providing general medication access requires sweeping reforms to remove barriers at the patient, clinician, and system levels.
Experts say these rules and a lack of funding restrict access to medication, particularly in rural areas. In most states, there are wait lists to access medication and counseling, which increases the risk of relapse and overdoses.
Photo by Arek Socha from Pixabay

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