Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, January 2020
In March 2019, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a consensus committee report entitled Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Save Lives. 1The report found that “To stem the opioid crisis, it is critical for all FDA-approved options to be available for all people with opioid use disorder.” The 3 current approved medications (methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone) are available in multiple formulations, including long-acting implants and injectables, and all except methadone are usually prescribed in a physician’s office. The report found that a major barrier to medication use is “the lack of appropriate education and training among health care providers.”
J.D. Rich, et al. Letter to the Editor: In Support of Residency Training to Address the Opioid Overdose Epidemic. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 2020;47(4):794-797.