Only 1 in 4 Opioid Users Receive Proper Medication Treatment

At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of outpatient addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, we treat patients with all forms of substance use disorder. One major category of drug use which we see an ongoing presence of is opioid use. Receiving proper care and treatment in a timely manner for opioid use is key to a patient’s recovery. Unfortunately, statistics show that only 1 in 4 opioid users receive the medications that would assist with their treatment and recovery. 

A shocking statistic is that over 9.4 million adults in the US are affected by opioid use disorder. That’s an extremely high number, and a number that we need to see decrease immediately. Sadly, only 25 percent of opioid users receive the proper medications needed to help them overcome their addictions and avoid a potentially deadly overdose. In fact, over 81,000 deaths occur in the US annually from opioid overdoses.  

Within the 9.4 million adults referenced above who suffer with opioid use disorder, only a little more than half of them (approximately 55%) receive any proper treatment specifically geared towards helping to stop the addiction. However, only 25% of the 9.4 million adults received medications from their doctors that are known to help one overcome their addiction. Two medications commonly used to treat opioid use disorder are methadone and buprenorphine. When used properly as prescribed by a healthcare professional, these medications are helpful in treating opioid use disorder. 

 One major issue is that over 40% of those who should be receiving treatment, such as at an outpatient center like Victory Recovery Partners, fail to receive the treatment needed for them to fully recover. The reason for this is due to a sense of denial – these opioid users do not feel they really have a problem; as a result, a large portion of users do not receive treatment that could be potentially lifesaving. Men have been shown to be more likely to seek treatment than women; the age group that most commonly receives treatment are those in their 30s and 40s. Our goal at Victory is to treat adults of all ages, so that we can effectively treat as many patients as possible.  

It is important to understand the reasons why so many patients choose to not receive proper care for their addictions. One reason for this is due to the opinions and recommendations of certain doctors who believe that medications should not be used as a remedy for opioid use disorder. Also, a medication referenced above, methadone, is only authorized to be provided by federal government-sanctioned opioid treatment programs; many cities and counties in the US do not have these resources available to those who truly need them. The availability of other medications, such as buprenorphine, are quite scarce and hard to find. In fact, some pharmacies don’t even have buprenorphine stocked and available for those users who need it most. 

Unfortunately, the opioid crisis in America has become a major issue that needs to be addressed, and hopefully soon resolved. By receiving proper education and learning the facts, you can help yourself (if you are struggling), or a loved one overcome the addictions. While there are treatments available to help, such as methadone and buprenorphine, these drugs are sometimes difficult to find access to. Our methadone clinic in Suffolk County, New York, successfully provides methadone to our patients who can, and do, truly benefit from it. To learn more about Victory Recovery Partners and our methadone services, visit our website www.victoryrp.com