Physicians are making strides in fighting the opioid crisis, but the epidemic won't end without expanded access to better treatment for pain and substance abuse, the American Medical Association reported.
The AMA released its report May 31 exploring how physician leadership is advancing the fight against the opioid crisis.
The report revealed increases in access to naloxone, state prescription drug monitoring program use and the number of physicians certified to treat patients with an opioid use disorder. It also found a decrease in opioid prescribing.
But "Such progress is tempered by the fact that every day, more than 115 people in the United States die from an opioid-related overdose," said Patrice Harris, MD, chair of the AMA Opioid Task Force. "What is needed now is a concerted effort to greatly expand access to high quality care for pain and for substance-use disorders. Unless and until we do that, this epidemic will not end."
Five report findings:
1. Between 2013 and 2017, the number of opioid prescriptions decreased by over 55 million — a decrease of about 22 percent nationally. The report showed decreases in every state.
2. Prescription drug monitoring program registration and use continues to increase regardless of state mandates to use the program. In 2017, healthcare professionals across the U.S. accessed state databases more than 300 million times — a 121 percent increase from the previous year.
3. In 2017, about 550,000 physicians and other healthcare professionals participated in continuing medical education and training in pain management and substance use disorders.
4. Naloxone prescriptions increased by over 50 percent in 2017, from roughly 3,500 to 8,000 naloxone prescriptions dispensed per week. That trend has continued in 2018; as of April, 11,600 naloxone prescriptions are dispensed each week — the highest rate on record.
5. As of May 2018, there were over 50,000 physicians certified to provide buprenorphine in office for treating opioid use disorders nationwide — an increase of about 42 percent in the last year.