A recent national survey has revealed that a significant number of Americans are unaware that primary care physicians have the authority to prescribe medication for opioid use disorder. This lack of awareness is concerning, especially in light of the efforts to improve access to treatment for opioid addiction.

Brandon del Pozo, an assistant professor at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School and School of Public Health, led the analysis of the survey results published in JAMA Network Open. According to del Pozo, despite advancements in simplifying the process for primary care doctors to prescribe safe and effective treatments for opioid use disorder, there remains a disconnect between the availability of medications and public knowledge about accessing them.

Studies over the years have demonstrated the efficacy of medications like buprenorphine and methadone in treating opioid use disorder. Policy changes at the federal level, including the removal of specialized training requirements and patient caps, have aimed to facilitate primary care physicians in prescribing these medications.

However, a recent study highlighted that even after the removal of a waiver requirement to prescribe buprenorphine, the number of prescribers increased while the number of individuals receiving the medication did not see a corresponding rise.

Del Pozo and fellow researchers at Brown University suggested that public health factors might be hindering access to these crucial medications. To investigate further, they incorporated questions related to awareness and comfort levels regarding opioid use disorder treatment in primary care into a survey conducted in collaboration with the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Among the 1,234 survey participants, a staggering 61% were unaware that primary care physicians could prescribe medication for opioid use disorder, with 13% mistakenly believing that such prescriptions were not possible. Notably, Black respondents were more likely to hold misconceptions about accessing medications for opioid use disorder through primary care, indicating a concerning disparity in information that could impede treatment access.

The survey findings underscore the need for enhanced education and awareness campaigns to inform the public about the role of primary care physicians in prescribing medication for opioid use disorder. Bridging this knowledge gap is crucial in ensuring that individuals grappling with opioid addiction can readily access the necessary treatments through their primary care providers.