Congress is expected to pass a massive $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package that includes numerous provisions aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic. I have been advocating for greater access to opioid addiction treatment for more than two decades. While the spending package contains many positive opioid treatment reforms, I am deeply concerned that Congress and others without on-the-ground experience will continue pushing dangerous policies to solve the opioid epidemic in the next Congress.
Many Americans with opioid use disorder go to one of the nearly 2,000 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the U.S. to receive high-quality, evidence-based care. These highly regulated facilities are made up of multidisciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, counselors, and social workers who provide comprehensive medication-assisted treatment.