Opioid misuse and addiction is a serious national crisis that affects public health and social and economic welfare. Daily, more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids.
The treatment of opioid dependence is a national priority and increasing the knowledge of and accessibility to effective medication-assisted treatments (MATs) for opioid dependence is of utmost importance to address this serious, growing problem.

Health care providers need to be educated and equipped to provide MATs such as long-acting naltrexone in the primary care setting where there is great need for substance use disorder management.

Vignette Senario
The patient has a history of abusing opiates. Originally started taking pain pills after an accident and then when acute pain treatment was over couldn’t stop taking opiates. Originally started with buying pills or seeking more prescriptions for opiates and then moved to heroin since cheaper and more readily available. Patient has seen several friends overdose and some have died. The patient would like to have treatment to help stop using drugs and has come to their provider to discuss.

The scene opens with the provider asking the patient why they have come for a visit. The provider has already introduced them self and starts with verifying patient’s identity.