Professor Treitler Finds Critical Gaps in Opioid Addiction Treatment Access
A research study led by Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) professor Peter Treitler and the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers University reveals alarming gaps in access to life-saving opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment among Medicaid enrollees nationwide.
The joint research findings, published recently in the peer-reviewed publication The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, provides a comprehensive national evaluation of access to and effectiveness of three FDA-approved medications for OUD. The study exposes the critical gaps in support systems and treatment for enrollees, the need for life-saving policy changes, and the anticipated inequities that Medicaid cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act present. Professor Treitler’s efforts are helping communities push for fair and effective substance use care that removes barriers and reduces overdose deaths.
“These results highlight the critical need for policies to ensure everyone can access treatment – regardless of where they live, their ability to pay, or other personal characteristics,” states Professor Treitler, who focuses on research aimed to improve wellbeing for people with substance use disorders and inform more-effective solutions to the nation’s critical substance use challenges.