Doctors urge lawmakers to ease opioid recovery medication access after disasters

9 articles · Updated · NPR · Apr 28

A coalition of physicians is pressing legislators to address medication shortages faced by opioid addiction patients following natural disasters.
Doctors warn that disrupted access to recovery medications increases the risk of relapse for those in treatment during emergencies.
Natural disasters often interrupt medical supply chains, highlighting the need for policy changes to protect vulnerable populations recovering from opioid addiction.

Could relaxed medication rules during disasters accidentally fuel a black market for opioids?

Why is life-saving addiction medication still an afterthought in many disaster plans?

As telehealth for addiction care grows, how can we prevent the poorest patients from being left behind?

With federal funding cuts looming, can state programs alone prevent a rise in overdose deaths?

Has the success of take-home methadone proven that stricter, older regulations were unnecessary?