Pew Urges Greater State Investment in Evidence-Based Opioid Treatments
Letter to U.S. House committee says improved access to medication is critical for managing crisis
On Oct. 7, The Pew Charitable Trusts’ substance use prevention and treatment initiative submitted a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee requesting that it encourage states to make long-term investments in evidence-based treatment.
Less than one-quarter of publicly funded treatment programs offer any U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), despite evidence of their effectiveness. Only 1 in 4 Americans with OUD receives any kind of care. The letter recommends that Congress prioritize access to expanded treatment—through mechanisms such as medication units and hub-and-spoke models—to help reduce fatal opioid overdoses.
