Substance abuse is an illness that requires medical attention.
- Financial and insurance barriers to treatment should be removed to hasten same-day access to evidence-based treatment nationwide.
- As detoxification alone for substance abuse can be an ineffective and potentially dangerous practice, it may not be the only course of action for most patients.
- 12-step based approaches may be insufficient when used to stabilize and treat patients with substance abuse. 12 step-based treatment does not protect against overdose and should only be introduced as an option in combination with pharmacological treatment and medical supervision.
- As prescribed, medication assisted treatment should continue for a minimum of one year, under a long-term medical model.
- All patients with Opioid Use Disorder should have access to one of three FDA-approved medications (buprenorphine, methadone, XR-naltrexone) as their primary treatment.
Speak to your doctor about substance abuse.
We need to hear your voice.