Results from a recent national survey published in JAMA Network Open have uncovered a significant lack of awareness among Americans regarding the ability of primary care physicians to prescribe medications for opioid use disorder. Lack of Awareness: The study found that 61% of the participants were unaware that primary care physicians could provide such medications, with an additional 13% holding the incorrect belief that they could not. Comfort in Seeking Treatment: Interestingly, the survey also revealed that 82% of individuals who had previously misused opioids expressed comfort in approaching their primary care physicians for treatment. Moreover, 74% of those who had not misused opioids stated that they would feel comfortable referring their loved ones to primary care for such medications. Disparities in Information: The research highlighted that Black American respondents were most likely to hold the incorrect belief that they could not access medications for opioid use disorder through primary care, underscoring a crucial disparity in information that could impede access to treatment. Opportunity for Awareness: The findings indicate a critical opportunity to enhance awareness of these treatment options and facilitate access to them, particularly through culturally tailored strategies to reach diverse population groups. Existing medications for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine and methadone, have demonstrated significant benefits over the years. Call for Action: Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse, emphasized the pivotal role of primary care in addressing addiction and administering life-saving medications. She highlighted the importance of providing education and support to empower patients to seek help from their primary care physicians. Barriers to Treatment: Despite recent policy changes that have removed certain obstacles to prescribing buprenorphine, barriers to accessing medications for opioid use disorder persist. Research suggests that increasing the involvement of primary care physicians in addiction treatment could have a substantial public health impact. Research Findings: Researchers at Brown University conducted a survey to assess public awareness and attitudes towards opioid use disorder treatment in primary care settings. The study's lead author, Dr. Brandon del Pozo, emphasized the need for alignment among science, public health, policy, and public perception to improve access to treatment. Future Directions: The authors recommended targeted strategies to enhance public awareness and investigate the impact of greater involvement of primary care physicians in providing medications for opioid use disorder. They suggested implementing awareness campaigns similar to those for HIV testing and cancer screening to address the information gap and increase demand for these critical treatments. By boosting awareness and demand, primary care physicians may be more motivated to offer medications for opioid use disorder with the necessary support and resources.
Journal information: JAMA Network Open
Provided by National Institutes of Health
Citation: Study reveals most Americans are unaware that primary care physicians can prescribe addiction treatment (2024, June 28) retrieved 28 June 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-reveals-americans-unaware-primary-physicians.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.