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.”