Pew’s substance use prevention and treatment initiative sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on April 27 encouraging the agency to expedite a final rule that will help opioid treatment programs (OTPs)—federally regulated facilities where patients take medications for opioid use disorder under the supervision of medical staff and receive counseling and other care services— operate mobile units.
Because OTP patients typically receive daily supervised doses, geographic gaps in the availability of these facilities and inconsistent access to transportation are significant barriers to treatment. The DEA’s proposed rule would help providers more easily reach patients, including individuals in rural areas and criminal justice settings.