📖 Gift Article
A deep dive into the history and current state of opioid addiction in the U.S., this article highlights the effectiveness of buprenorphine (Suboxone) therapy in treating opioid use disorder—a chronic but treatable medical condition.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/m...
Dehumanizing people suffering from homelessness and substance use is an attempt to deflect that substance use disorder is a treatable medical condition and homelessness is a result of institutional neglect and lack of safety net resources.
www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...
Zion Nation Park, Many Pools trail, March 2023
Recognizing these patterns in yourself or others is a crucial first step toward seeking help. Addiction isn’t about weakness—it’s about a condition that requires understanding, compassion, and evidence-based care.
For example, one may find themselves visiting the liquor store multiple times a week, not because they don’t want to plan ahead, but because buying in bulk makes it harder to moderate or pace their drinking. This behavior often reflects the struggle to balance their use with a growing dependence.
One telltale sign of addiction is a loss of control over substance use.
During my time in the military many people developed substance use issues as a way to self medicate for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Too many time rather than given treatment they were administratively discharged from active duty. This is part of the cycle that leads to homeless veterans.
I think S.644 - Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act, a bill put forward in congress, is another example of possible positive forward thinking regulatory changes that could be made. It would allow some addiction physicians to prescribe methadone outside of methadone clinics to normal pharmacies.
Specifically the recent federal changes of the removal of the x-waiver requirement for buprenorphine prescriptions in 2023 and extending COVID-era changes to methadone prescribing have been positive changes. I am hopeful that we are moving in the right direction but needs to be done.
Methadone and buprenorphine are some of the most effective medications in their ability prevent fatal overdoses in individuals with opioid use disorder and yet are some of the most regulated medication in the country? Recent changes in federal regulations have helped but more work needs to be done.
I really enjoy following talented landscape photographers. I like to imagine the time, effort, and planning that does into finding the perfect shot that can contain so much emotion and beauty. Thank you.
Cost is still a large access barrier for many patients. I would like more studies with GLP-1 targeting SUD as a primary outcome. I’ll use it in combination with other indication (diabetes, obesity, etc) but I need more data for primary SUD.