Posted on Dec 18, 2022
People addicted to opioids rarely get life-saving medications. That may change.
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https://www.npr.org/2022/12/17/ [login to see] /people-addicted-to-opioids-rarely-get-life-saving-medications-that-may-change
Doctors and researchers have known for decades that safe, easy-to-use medications are a game-changer for people addicted to opioids.
Buprenorphine and methadone reduce cravings for opioids and ease withdrawal symptoms, helping people avoid relapses and deadly overdoses.
"If somebody has access to these life-saving medications, it cuts their mortality risk by 50 percent," says Dr. Linda Wang, a researcher who treats patients with addiction at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
"It has a huge impact preventing death."
But as fatal opioid overdoses surge in the U.S., topping 80,000 deaths last year, access to these medications remains severely limited.
Wang says in part that's because of complex, often punitive federal regulations that restrict how these medicines are prescribed and dispensed.
Methadone in particular is unavailable to Americans who don't have access to special federally-approved opioid treatment clinics.
Doctors and researchers have known for decades that safe, easy-to-use medications are a game-changer for people addicted to opioids.
Buprenorphine and methadone reduce cravings for opioids and ease withdrawal symptoms, helping people avoid relapses and deadly overdoses.
"If somebody has access to these life-saving medications, it cuts their mortality risk by 50 percent," says Dr. Linda Wang, a researcher who treats patients with addiction at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
"It has a huge impact preventing death."
But as fatal opioid overdoses surge in the U.S., topping 80,000 deaths last year, access to these medications remains severely limited.
Wang says in part that's because of complex, often punitive federal regulations that restrict how these medicines are prescribed and dispensed.
Methadone in particular is unavailable to Americans who don't have access to special federally-approved opioid treatment clinics.
People addicted to opioids rarely get life-saving medications. That may change.
Posted from npr.org
Medical
Health
Drugs
Pharmaceuticals
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Wang says in part that's because of complex, often punitive federal regulations that restrict how these medicines are prescribed and dispensed.
Methadone in particular is unavailable to Americans who don't have access to special federally-approved opioid treatment clinics.
Regular physicians aren't allowed to prescribe the medication, even though they are allowed to prescribe highly addictive opioid pain..."....
..."Wang says in part that's because of complex, often punitive federal regulations that restrict how these medicines are prescribed and dispensed.
Methadone in particular is unavailable to Americans who don't have access to special federally-approved opioid treatment clinics.
Regular physicians aren't allowed to prescribe the medication, even though they are allowed to prescribe highly addictive opioid pain..."....
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We seem to have physicians providing prescriptions and refills just like candy! Those who have become dependant on them know, which doctors to go to!
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SSgt Richard Kensinger
Unfortunately, managed care only reimburses for prescription services over actual office visits.
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Rich
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