Opioid use disorder is a devastating disease that takes more than 100 lives every day. Fortunately, effective treatment is available. Medication-assisted treatment — which combines FDA-approved drugs with behavioral therapies, such as counseling — reduces illicit drug use, overdoses, health care costs and criminal activity.
However, access to this proven treatment is scarce, and more resources are needed to expand care. Tight state budgets depend heavily upon federal funding to support treatment programs and qualified providers.
To combat this public health crisis, policymakers must act quickly to provide funding to help states — and those needing treatment.
– Cynthia Reilly, Director, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Initiative, The Pew Charitable Trusts