Methadone Is an Effective Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder, So Why Aren’t More Patients Using It?

Methadone is one of the most effective treatments for opioid use disorder, however, there are stricter laws regulating peoples’ access to this drug than any other drug with a similar function. These laws are extremely outdated, with some being more than 50 years old, but have not been changed to allow easier access to Methadone. As the most effective yet least accessible drug, Methadone works to prevent the intense withdrawal that accompanies opioid abuse. By loosening regulations on Methadone, it will become more widely accessible, which directly correlates to a reduction in mortality rate from opioids. One of the reasons why physicians are unable to simply prescribe Methadone to their patients is due to the fact that the majority of Methadone treatment programs are for-profit, which aims to perpetuate the current monopoly they have on the distribution of the drug. By making it more accessible to the general public, these for-profit organizations fear the loss of their treatment programs. Additionally, there continues to be the baseless assumptions that increasing access to methadone will in turn increase drug use. To read the full article, click here. For more information on policy, click here.