People with substance use disorders need comprehensive treatment that includes both drug and nondrug therapies to support opioid withdrawal, treatment, and long-term recovery. However, in 2018, only about 10 percent of individuals with a substance use disorder received any kind of treatment, whether through self-help programs, inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, or doctors’ offices. Effective care, including access to programs that pair medications with behavioral therapy, remains elusive for many patients.
To help close this treatment gap, Pew focuses on policies that would expand access to evidence-based care for opioid and alcohol use disorders.