FDA to issue guidance on therapy for opioid addiction: 5 insights

Practice Management

The FDA will introduce guidance on more access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, CNN reports.

Here are five insights.

 

1. HHS Secretary Alex Azar commented on the coming guidance at a National Governor's Association's meeting Feb. 24.

 

2. Medication-assisted treatment includes behavioral therapy and medications to help cut cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Medications often used are buphrenorphine and methadone. The FDA approved methadone, naltrexone and buprenorphine for opioid addiction treatment.

 

3. During the meeting, CNN reported Mr. Azar said, "Medication-assisted treatment works. The evidence on this is voluminous and ever-growing."

 

4. The FDA guidance will emphasize the need for developing new forms of the opioid-addiction fighting drugs, such as an injectable formulation of buprenorphine.

 

5. The FDA will also comment on studies investigating the efficacy of medication-assisted treatment.

 

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