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

Speeches and Testimony October 7, 2019 Read time:

Projects: Substance Use Prevention and Treatment

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.