We have lost our publisher, Sue Emerson. It happened on April 18, following a short illness. Just a year or so earlier we’d celebrated an important milestone—Sue’s 25 years as publisher of Addiction Treatment Forum. Many of AT Forum’s readers didn’t know, or know of, Susan Caille Emerson. At one time Sue ran a “From the Publisher” column, but that was a while back. In recent … [Read more...] about Susan Caille Emerson, 1951–2019
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Review Article: NIDA Experts Dr. Blanco and Dr. Volkow on Opioid Use Disorder
A new review paper by Carlos Blanco, MD, PhD, and Nora Volkow, MD, nicely summarizes current and future management of opioid use disorder (OUD)—as one would expect from two outstanding researchers. Dr. Blanco is Director of the Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and Dr. Volkow is the Director of NIDA. The … [Read more...] about Review Article: NIDA Experts Dr. Blanco and Dr. Volkow on Opioid Use Disorder
Study: Medicaid Expansion Under ACA Can Increase Access to OAT—But Better Access May Be Within Reach
When Medicaid expansion was enacted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expectations were that patients with opioid use disorders (OUDs) in specialty substance use settings in expansion states would have better access to opioid agonist treatment (OAT). Several studies have now shown that to be the case. A new study provides additional verification—and offers suggestions for … [Read more...] about Study: Medicaid Expansion Under ACA Can Increase Access to OAT—But Better Access May Be Within Reach
42 CFR Part 2 Still Under Threat
Despite years of attempting to do away with the regulation that protects the confidentiality of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records—with almost all treatment organizations piling onto the bandwagon—the insurance industry has still not managed to do so. The regulation, 42 CFR Part 2, has been chipped away at, allowing various exceptions, such as for the vaguely … [Read more...] about 42 CFR Part 2 Still Under Threat
Keeping All Three OUD Medications in Congress’ Eye
The key to keeping methadone and opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the sights of appropriators is the phrase “all three medications” when referring to “MAT” (medication-assisted treatment) to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). That’s because there are only three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat OUD—methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone—and … [Read more...] about Keeping All Three OUD Medications in Congress’ Eye
