Summary: A significant US population is living with opioid addiction. Studies show that most of them would like to be treated for the condition. However, poor access to medical treatment remains a significant barrier. Now, a new study shows that 61% of Americans are unaware that their primary care physician can prescribe addiction medication. Thus, the study highlights the importance of raising awareness among the population.
A new study shows that most Americans are aware of the fact that their primary care physician can prescribe addiction treatment. This means that they think that addiction can only be treated by specialists or in specialized clinics. This means that they do not seek help for their problem.
It is well-known that most of those living with substance use disorder (SUD) would like to get treatment for their condition. However, there are many well-known hurdles to seeking such treatment. One of the biggest hurdles to SUD is that treatment is not readily accessible in many places.
However, in recent years, the government has taken many steps. One such step includes allowing primary care physicians to prescribe addiction medications.
There is a reason why previously primary care physicians were not allowed to prescribe these medications. Medications used to treat issues like opioid use disorder (OUD) are also opioids. However, these medications are much safer than the opioids that individuals living with OUD use.
Another way in which medications prescribed by doctors help is that they are much safer than illicit opioids. So, there are many reasons for considering OUD treatment. It may gradually help overcome opioid addiction and stay clean.
However, people can only seek treatment if they are aware of the fact that even their primary care physician can prescribe opioid addiction treatment drugs.
This new study published in one of the reputed journals, JAMA, had many surprising findings. It found that 61% of Americans are unaware that their primary care physician can prescribe medications for OUD. In fact, about 13% were completely sure that they could not.
This is despite the fact that the same study found that most of those living with OUD would like to be treated. Thus, 82% of those living with OUD were willing to seek treatment. Further, 53% agreed that primary care should provide OUD treatment, and 24% strongly agreed with it.
Additionally, the study also found that Black Americans were less aware of the fact that primary care physicians can help manage OUD, which explains the prevalence of health disparities when it comes to managing OUD.
This study is very important, considering that the US has less than 2500 addiction medicine specialists in the country, where millions are living with OUD. Hence, primary care physicians can play a significant role in managing the condition. However, for primary care physicians to help, patients must also need to be aware of where they can seek help.
This study shows that policy changes are often not sufficient. There must be a significant focus on increasing public awareness. There is a need for educational campaigns. Of course, primary care physicians must also participate in these campaigns, helping close these knowledge gaps.
Primary care physicians are the first and even the sole point of regular contact with healthcare services for many. Hence, primary care physicians can play an important role in raising awareness and providing lifesaving treatments to their patients.
Source: del Pozo, B., Park, J. N., Taylor, B. G., Wakeman, S. E., Ducharme, L., Pollack, H. A., & Rich, J. D. (2024). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in Primary Care. JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2419094. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.19094
