The medical community has been working to end the opioid crisis for years, but with 130 opioid overdose deaths every day (NIDA, 2019), it is clear that members of the treatment world and government need to break some bad habits.
We have serious problems with the way we treat opioid addiction, medically known as opioid use disorder (OUD), which stems from the widespread stigma surrounding treatments that break from the traditional, abstinence-only mold. The medical field—and policymakers—must recognize the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments over abstinence-only treatments and put an end to the biases surrounding many facets of addiction recovery. This will not only allow for more effective care, but it will provide clarity and motivation to revise antiquated policies.