Despite an overdose epidemic that killed 107,000 people last year, nearly 9 in 10 Americans who need medication to treat their addiction to deadly opioids aren’t receiving it.
Surprising new results from a first-of-its-kind study in Rhode Island could hold a key to getting addiction medication to more people who need it: allowing patients to get prescriptions at their local pharmacy rather than a doctor’s office. The change would particularly help those with low incomes who lack housing and transportation, the study found.
The Biden administration and states have been working to reduce barriers to addiction treatment. And state officials say they plan to use a chunk of the $26 billion they will receive from pharmaceutical companies in opioid settlement funds to increase access to addiction medication.
