Summary: Less than 4% of those prescribed opioids may need treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). However, a new study shows that barely 25% of them are getting buprenorphine or methadone for OUD treatment. Almost half are not getting any meds, and the rest are being treated with other medications. This may explain why a significant number of deaths are still occurring in those living with OUD. The study identified several reasons for this.
The opioid epidemic is a significant problem in the US, causing more than 80,000 deaths annually. Fortunately, death rates due to opioid use disorder (OUD) are declining. Unfortunately, they are not declining as fast as expected. One of the new studies suggests that the cause of significant OUD-related mortality could be that many are simply not getting meds to manage OUD.
Opioids are still among the most potent painkillers. There are many clinical or painful conditions that are best managed using opioids. Moreover, only a small number of those prescribed opioids develop OUD. Hence, OUD is not the reason to completely discontinue opioid use. There are millions of people benefiting from opioids, resulting in better pain control and quality of life.
When it comes to the small number of cases living with OUD, it is important to diagnose the condition early and provide proper care or medical treatment like telehealth addiction treatment. However, many of those living with OUD are simply not getting the right kind of treatment, resulting in poor treatment outcomes.
This new study has been published in one of the weekly reports by the CDC, which looked into the extensive data regarding OUD treatment.
In this new study, researchers analyzed the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data for the year 2022. They found that about 3.7% of all those who use opioids need treatment for OUD. However, the study found that barely 25% of these individuals requiring OUD treatment are getting their meds.
That is not all; they also found health disparities. Thus, blacks were even less likely to be treated for OUD with meds compared to whites.
OUD is treated using medications like buprenorphine and methadone. Both of these drugs are milder and safer opioids. However, it is evident from the data that doctors are hesitant in prescribing these medications.
Thus, the study found that almost half of all the patients were being treated without medications. The rest of the patients were being given medications, but not buprenorphine or methadone, which are proven to work and save lives. All this results in inadequate treatment and, thus, harm.
It appears that most doctors are just too worried that their patients might start abusing treatment drugs, too. They seem to judge their patients too strictly. Researchers say that doctors need to develop a nonjudgmental approach to build trust with their patients.
The study also found that many doctors believed that using certain medications for treating OUD is equal to promoting illegal substance use. However, there are certain regulatory reasons, too. Methadone can be dispensed only from a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration–-certified opioid treatment program (OTP). However, many counties do not have any OTP, so doctors are not left with any choice.
Although buprenorphine is more accessible, a large number of pharmacies do not stock this drug for various reasons. Further, there are certain legal hurdles to prescribing buprenorphine, too. Many physicians simply cannot prescribe it, have too little experience, or have many concerns.
Simply said, OUD affects a small number of those who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain. It appears that a significant number of deaths occurring due to OUD can be prevented by sufficient treatment by providing OUD meds to more patients.
Source:
Dowell, D. (2024). Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Population Estimates — United States, 2022. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7325a1
