As drug deaths surged above 112,000 a year in the U.S., driven by the spread of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, addiction experts have pointed to a troubling paradox. Proven medications, including methadone, have been shown to save lives, cutting the risk of relapses and fatal overdoses by nearly 60%. Yet they are rarely prescribed.
Despite the growing risk of death, only one-in-five people experiencing opioid addiction gain access to medications. Clinicians and treatment advocates say that's due in part to the fact that methadone is heavily regulated.
