Thread by @veruka2

Massive study (>40k ppl) on opioid addx treatment finds sig. reduct. in OD and health complications in pts on bupe & methadone. Other behavioral or residential care, detox, *naltrexone* had SAME OUTCOMES AS NO TREATMENT AT ALL. 1/13

jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman…

It's far beyond time to start asking ourselves a few tough questions:
--why does SAMHSA financially support so many treatment centers that do not offer the only medications for opioid use disorder that are PROVEN to save lives? 2/13

--why are individuals who are arrested and/or imprisoned almost universally denied these life saving medications, regardless of whether they need them or were receiving them from a Dr at time of arrest? 3/13

--why are we allowing jails and prisons to celebrate themselves for "offering treatment" when all that means is dosing inmates with naltrexone--a medication known to INCREASE overdose risk--the moment they are released? 4/13

--why do so many drug courts refuse participants/defendants access to these medications? Many drug courts will treat rx methadone and bupe as "failure" of the court program and will send people back to jail for meds received from their Dr. 5/13

This study simply reiterates several scientifically established truths that we have LONG known. This is very important research...but it's not news.

We're how many years, how many tens of thousands of preventable deaths into this overdose epidemic now?... 6/13

...So why in the hell are these meds so SO under-used, under-promoted, unknown to people in need, disparages by certain segments of law enforcement, disparaged by certain segments of the recovery community. It makes no sense. Unless... 7/13

...unless you recognize the fact that we hate people who use drugs. We hate them. We, as individuals, as families, as institutions, as a society. We tell them they are weak. We treat them like garbage. We tell them everything they are struggling with is their fault. 8/13

When we misplace blame onto ppl who use for things they can not control, we create this false belief in ourselves that ppl experiencing addiction need BETTER CHARACTER more than they need proven support---support that doesn't claim to require "rock bottom" to start working. 9/13

Let's be clear. "Rock bottom" is not a turning point. It is total abandonment. "Tough love" isn't support. It's abandonment. "A night in jail" isn't treatment. It's jail (h/t @DrKimSue). Anything that isn't proven, effective treatment ...isn't treatment. 10/13

If we truly love people living with opioid addxn, we will want them to be healthy and survive.

If we want them to be healthy and survive, we MUST defend and fight for access to these meds.

Meds aren't a crutch.
Meds aren't a substitute addxn.
Meds save lives. 11/13

Love is not forcing more pain onto those already suffering.

Love is supporting the choices that ppl make for themselves when seeking addxn support.

Love is making sure that life saving medications (methadone & bupe) are ALWAYS among those available choices. 12/13

We so often and so tenaciously hate people who use drugs. But we can choose love.

Ask where these meds can be accessed in your community. Ask why there isn't nearly enough enough access to meet need/demand. Then go out and fight for more. 13/13