A new comprehensive review reinforced the medical consensus that medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), particularly buprenorphine and methadone, are among the most effective interventions for reducing drug poisoning mortality and improving long-term outcomes.
Published in JAMA, the review synthesized clinical evidence indicating that medication treatment is associated with substantially lower mortality risk. However, in 2022, only about 25 percent of people in the United States with opioid use disorder (OUD) received these medications. The authors emphasized that MOUD selection should be guided by shared decision-making that considers treatment availability, convenience, and patient preferences. The review also reinforced the need to remove regulatory and structural barriers that continue to constrain access to evidence-based care, particularly for patients in rural and other underserved communities.
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