The Authors’ Own Words:
We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.
Commentary On The 40th Anniversary of AMERSA: AMERSA at 40: How It All Began And How It Survived
David Lewis MD & Sidney H. Schnoll MD, PhD
Substance Abuse Vol. 39, Iss. 2, 2018
“The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest health care system in the US, has been at the forefront of integrating medication into the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). VA has utilized multiple policy levers, including national policy, directed funding, educational and quality improvement initiatives and data monitoring systems, which have collectively led to a greater use of medication for the treatment of OUD even as the number of patients diagnosed with OUD has expanded considerably. And yet substantial challenges persist: indicated medications remain underutilized, facilities continue to vary widely in their rates of prescribing, patients’ demographic and social status characteristics are correlated with medication receipt, and VA’s capacity to supply methadone has not risen to meet patient demand. This article describes key priorities for future research and clinical practice intended to support the greater use of medication for OUD in the future, both within VA as well as other large health care systems.”
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