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In the 21^st Century, Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) has been the most significant evolution in SUD (Substance User Disorder) treatment options, particularly in relation to the national wave of ongoing opioid abuse. Despite the proven effectiveness of MAT, a study shows that California access to MAT options were stalled before the COVID-19 pandemic. Too many heroin addicts and prescription painkiller abusers could not access help.

Unfortunately, the closed doors are not opening today. During the pandemic, the problem of the lack of access to MAT is only getting worse. Hundreds of thousands of desperate people in California are unable to access a treatment option that could save their lives. However, as you will see, Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. (TTC) has a proven history of delivering evidence-based alcohol and drug treatment services, including providing access to life saving MAT options.

Studies about MAT Options for Opioid Substance Use Disorder

According to two recent studies, the opioid problem continues to be a rising threat. In a recent study on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), published in November 2020 by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a part of the United States National Library of Medicine, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, the national rate of opioid use disorder is staggering.

Indeed, as the study reveals, “Opioid use disorders affect over 16 million people worldwide, over 2.1 million in the United States, and there are over 120,000 deaths worldwide annually attributed to opioids.” Although the U.S. population of 331 million people represents only 4.25% of the total world populations, over 13% of the people suffering worldwide from OUD (Opioid Use Disorder) are Americans. In other words, this country is under siege from opioid addiction and the resulting criminal damage, health costs, and family harm done by this disease.

Moreover, according to the 2019 California fact sheet compiled by the Urban Institute, almost 700,00 of the 2.1 million people in the United States with OUD live in the Golden State. Although many of these opioid abusers and heroin addicts desire medication-assisted treatment options, the availability of MAT simply is not there. The drugs covered under MAT for OUD include FDA-approved buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.

A Vast Majority of Doctors Lack MAT Buprenorphine Waivers

The problem is that prescribers need to obtain a waiver from the state to prescribe these lifesaving MAT options for OUD. Such waivers require training and the commitment to treat these patients and clients with OUD. In other words, any medical doctor needs to go through additional training to prescribe the drugs needed.

According to the Urban Institute data, at the time of the compilation, only 3.2% of the over 204,851 total prescribers in the state have a buprenorphine waiver. Thus, California has only about 6,500 MAT medical providers for over 700,00 heroin addicts or prescription painkiller abusers. Since the 82% of these prescribers have a 30-patient limit for MAT, there simply are not enough doctors to go around.

Tarzana Treatment Centers Trains Every Prescriber on Staff

To address the lack of MAT resources in California, TTC continues to provide MAT to any patient in our care that needs such help. This includes patients primarily receiving mental health, medical care, HIV/AIDS and/or housing services. To address patient demand, every doctor or prescriber working for TTC is required to go through the training needed to obtain a buprenorphine-waiver to prescribe the medication. The same is true of naltrexone and methadone.

Although TTC represents a sign of progress by treating MAT as a true priority in the battle against opioid use disorder, our SUD services are not enough. We can only address so many patients at any given time. Indeed, although we represent the path that should be taken, we are not and never could be the answer to the huge problem facing California.

California Need to Step Up and Provide MAT Trainings

However, by following the lead of TTC, California can make effective inroads on the OUD problem. Still, the state is facing a significant issue. As California Healthline reports, “Another obstacle to MAT expansion, one squarely in the sights of California health authorities, is that many doctors are hesitant to participate because they must undergo federally mandated training for a waiver that allows them to prescribe buprenorphine.”

Thus, more training options for doctors across the state. The number of doctors prescribing with MAT waivers should double every six months until the greater medical community can properly address the OUD challenge. Since every life is precious, any opioid addict wanting to receive MAT should be shown an open door to potential long-term recovery.