| dc.description.abstract | In 2020, opioids were involved in 68,630 overdose deaths, which accounted for 74.8% of all drug
overdose deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). In the past few decades, an increased
understanding surrounding the neurological, and subsequent physiological, dependence caused by
substances has shifted society’s ideology away from viewing addiction as a choice and instead towards a
disease that has claimed the lives of millions. Opioid addiction as outlined by the 5th edition of the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, indirectly effects arguably all Americans due to the financial toll and
how this disease impacts not only loved ones, but also communities surrounding individuals suffering
from addiction. Buprenorphine, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pharmacological
treatment option for opioid use disorder, has yielded drastically positive outcomes, especially when
combined with behavioral health interventions. More specifically, Greiner et al. (2021) found that of
those who retained treatment, fewer met relapse criteria (16.4% vs 38.9%), they had fewer opioid use
days in the past month (4.4 days vs 9.8 days), and they had less stimulant use (15.2% vs 27.7%). An
opposition to MAT options such as Buprenorphine, neglects the empirically sound evidence, disregards
the importance of combating the opioid epidemic, and exhibits a lack of urgency to save lives. It is
important to note that buprenorphine at any dose has been found to retain patients in recovery better than
a placebo (Reimer et al., 2020). The availability of these treatment options is vital to preserving the health
of Americans and combating years of stigma attributing to barriers individuals face when receiving
addictions treatment. | en_US |
