4 ms·
This is the key from my perspective: "Moreover, as of 2008, three-quarters of those with opioid use disorder were receiving medication-assisted treatment. Thoug
by opiate_recovery 6y ago
This is the key from my perspective:
"Moreover, as of 2008, three-quarters of those with opioid use disorder were receiving medication-assisted treatment. Though that’s considered the best approach, less than half of Americans who could benefit from medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction receive it."
Buprenorphine has saved my life and I wish everyone could have access to it and that it would be provided for free. Pay for it from grabbing back cash from the Sackler's.
I'm surprised in the article the phrase 'less than half' which sounds like it's on the higher end towards 50.
I would have guessed much lower. I can't find a great source but this has some numbers [1]. Says only 36% of rehabs have access to at least one replacement therapy.
And that's people who can access rehab...
To be able to prescribe Suboxone - from what my Dr. has told me - MDs have to have a specific DEA certificate. And they limit the number of patients one single Dr. can treat at a few hundred.
In my state there aren't many prescribers - not nearly enough for the number of addicts. And I live in a liberal state.
It's easier for Drs to dole out opiates than prescribe buprenorphine.
We can also learn from Portugal in more community and healthcare intervention.
The big problem here to get there is that DAs, sheriffs, mayors are elected and there are 50 states. We will need to shift public opinion everywhere to make meaningful progress outside of big cities. Plus with Barr's Justice Department catholic radicalization who knows what happens if they get another 4 years.
It's gross that in America those who are poor, BIPOC, are far more likely to have their lives ruined by unequal drug prosecutions.
If we ever start treating addiction not prosecuting it, I hope we'll do better than marijuana and clear old records/convictions for small drug possession.
https://nam.edu/improving-access-to-evidence-based-medical-treatment-for-opioid-use-disorder-strategies-to-address-key-barriers-within-the-treatment-system/ https://nam.edu/improving-access-to-evidence-based-medical-t...
- nefitty 6y agoWhy are opiate treatment drugs so highly controlled? Do they have a high risk for recreational abuse, or extreme side effects, or is something else wrong?
- greencar 6y agoThey give you a good buzz, especially if you are a relatively opiate naive person. If you happen to have an addict friend that wants to sell their methadone or suboxen to buy real stuff, then it ends up being a lose lose for people trying to stop overall use
- opiate_recovery 6y agoBupe + naloxone doesn't give any buzz and it blocks you from getting high from other opiates. i guess maybe if you were opiate naive maybe it would IDK. but that would be really dumb to take if you want to get high take the real shit Definitely can from methadone especially mixed with a benzo for sure people sell it but they're going to use with or without it. studies have shown that those who don't get long time sober and do replacement therapy on and off nonetheless have longer periods of abstinence and lower death time frames (not sure how to phrase that they dont die as much/soon)
- eecc 6y agoMethadone is even more dangerous than the real stuff: just withdraw syndrome can be fatal.
- opiate_recovery 6y agoyeah it's gross. i'm 100% for just giving actual pure opiates out for free to addicts that don't yet want to get clean. in a lot of ways it would be safer. clean, known dose, less theft to pay for drugs, less violence no cartels
- opiate_recovery 6y agoi believe it's 100% because of stigma and 'values preaching' and the history of methadone buprenorphine + naloxone is nothing like methadone suboxone has few to none of the externalities of methadone just in general with drugs and treatment we would be so much better off if those who force their personal values upon others had some sympathy and compassion
- yborg 6y agoThe current system in the US is a virtuous cycle - companies like Purdue make tens of billions creating a huge population of addicts, and then the resulting crime justifies the expansion of heavily militarized police to wage war "on drugs", which then can funnel the losers of the battle into a for-profit prison system. Imagine the profit potential of a nation of 150 million junkies. Actually solving the problem costs money.
- justinclift 6y ago> virtuous cycle That example would probably be called a vicious cycle, rather than a virtuous one. ;)
- sidkshatriya 6y agoI think the word "virtuous" was used sarcastically. And it is virtuous from the perspective of those entities profiting from the above cycle...
- tacocataco 6y agoThe purpose of the drug war isn't to prevent drug use or help people quit drugs.