As the Covid-19 virus spread across the U.S., addiction doctors and policy experts feared the worst for the estimated half-million Americans battling opioid addiction, knowing that isolation, stress and financial hardship could trigger overdose and relapse. But those fears have eased since federal authorities moved quickly to enact far-reaching policy changes—easing strict regulations and access to addiction treatment and medications.
By using telemedicine instead of in-person visits to evaluate and prescribe withdrawal drugs, and making it easier to obtain larger doses of those medications—including home delivery—patients were able to maintain their treatment without risk of spreading the virus or becoming infected. Now, many in the field say they want these long-sought policies to become the new normal—hoping to transform patient care for those with substance abuse issues for decades to come.
Supporters argue the new allowances could result in even greater expansion of services and treatment, especially in rural areas, where there are few qualified doctors to treat addiction and prescribe medications. Others, however, are more cautious, saying that the new rules do little for Americans addiction to other drugs including meth, cocaine and alcohol. As we look ahead, we must evaluate and adopt the regulatory practices that make sense and enable the widest access to a full range of treatment services.