Guest Editorial: To Address the Fentanyl Crisis, Greater Access to Methadone Is Needed (asam.org)
The Article below is authored by Percy Menzies, M. Pharm., President of Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA)" in response to the story linked above.
We need to read these two articles to understand the gravity of the opioid epidemic crisis. I have stated several times that we are now in a full-blown, supply-driven opioid epidemic crisis, and since it is supply-driven, it can and will grow. There is little we can do to stem the flow of illegal opioids.
I have also stated in my previous blogs that opioid substitution treatment (OST) with methadone and buprenorphine is less effective and may even contribute to the exacerbation of the problem. We are caught between a rock and a hard place. I agree with Dr. Volkow that we should increase patients' access to OST, knowing that we will see increased diversion, abuse, and, yes, overdoses.
Where I disagree is the belief that OST will solve the crisis. Why the hesitation to deploy naltrexone tablets as a public health prevention strategy? I doubt if there is even a working group looking at strategies to deploy this highly effective preventive measure.
President Biden talked about a cancer "moonshot" to end cancer. Where is the moonshot effort to end addictive disorders? Where is the effort to develop and utilize newer medications in different classes, as was the case in the fight against HIV/AIDS? We have to end our national fixation that OST alone will end the opioid catastrophe.
We need a multi-pronged strategy to creatively and effectively deploy every medication at hand. We did that with naloxone. It is time we look at the widespread use of naltrexone and nalmefene as a prevention strategy. We also need to spend tens of millions of dollars to develop newer medications for the treatment and prevention of all addictive disorders.
Want to connect with Percy Menzies? Reach out to him via email at pmenzies@arcamidwest.com
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