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Confronting an Epidemic: The Case for Eliminating Barriers to Medication-Assisted Treatment of Heroin and Opioid Addiction
- Organization: Legal Action Center
- Document Type: Report
- Date Created: Tuesday, March 10, 2015
- Submitted: Tuesday, March 10, 2015
- Attachment(s): PDF
This report outlines the health, justice, and economic advantages of medication-assisted treatment along with several policy recommendations for improving addiction treatment. The report advocates for increased utilization of MAT in the criminal justice system, including: promoting treatment alternatives to incarceration where appropriate; improving availability of MAT services in prisons; and placing a greater emphasis on creating pathways to recovery programs. It also encourages the adoption of policies that make effective medication available through insurance coverage; enforce public and private consumer protection requirements; and eliminate obstacles resulting from misinformation and lack of training.