The overdose crisis is turning around
Salon.com••health
Key Points:
- Overdose deaths in the U.S. are projected to decline by nearly 25% for the year ending April 2025, attributed to expanded access to opioid use disorder treatments, telehealth, and naloxone distribution.
- Key policies enabling this progress, such as access to medications like buprenorphine and methadone and telehealth flexibilities, remain vulnerable and could expire in 2026 without congressional action.
- Medicaid, which covers nearly half of adults with opioid use disorder, is facing significant coverage losses due to policy changes and budget cuts, threatening access to critical treatment services.
- Congress has the opportunity to sustain and build on these gains by reauthorizing supportive legislation, expanding treatment access for vulnerable populations, and
