Breaking Down the Barriers to Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Examining the need for substance use disorder treatment, we begin the examination with a comparison between the COVID-19 pandemic and fentanyl overdoses. According to the CDC, in 2020 and 2021, more than 57,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 died of COVID-19.
During the same period, the number in this age group that died from a fentanyl overdose was much greater. According to data compiled by Families Against Fentanyl, 79,000 people between 18 and 45 died from just fentanyl overdoses. Indeed, these numbers do not include drug overdoses from all the other drugs combined.
Consequently, the need for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is greater than ever. Moreover, illicit fentanyl is now the number one cause of death among Americans 18 to 45, surpassing COVID-19, suicide, and car accidents. In addition, the numbers continue to rise.
With nearly a 60% increase, the total number of fentanyl deaths among these Americans in the prime years of other lives nearly doubled from 2020 to 2021. If anyone claims that substance use disorder treatment is unnecessary, they simply are not paying attention.
The Barriers to Substance Use Disorder Treatment
A question that needs to be asked is what are the barriers to substance use disorder treatment? As a provider of these services and Medications for Addiction Treatment, Tarzana Treatment Centers is on the front lines of the crisis. Indeed, more patients than ever before require professional help. Thus, we need to remove the barriers to substance use disorder treatment.
What are the barriers to treatment? Here are three SUD educational points that can no longer be ignored. By embracing the awareness of these truths, we can convince people to access help.
- Substance Use Disorder is a Chronic Disease
- Incarceration and Prison are not the Answers
- Access to SUD Treatment is the Number One Need
By accepting these basic educational points and raising general awareness, we will move in the right direction. There is no way to stem the tide without removing stigma and prejudice. Indeed, the disease model of substance use disorders is an essential reality that needs to be championed.
Help is Available if You are Willing to Be Proactive
At TTC, the SUD treatment staff uses MAT Services to address the difficulty of opioid withdrawal management. Thus, medications for addiction treatment make the process of getting sober that much more accessible. Ultimately, when so many people are dying, doesn’t it make sense to use all the tools and medicines at our disposal? People need help, and substance use disorder treatment is the best solution available.