ASAM issues policy — again — on methadone

Key Points

• Allowing office-based prescribing of methadone could improve access for patients with opioid use disorder.
• ASAM emphasizes the need to shift methadone treatment from exclusive opioid treatment programs to broader healthcare settings.
• Effective treatment of opioid use disorder requires breaking the restrictive federal regulations on methadone prescribing patterns.
• The existing restrictions on methadone have limited patient access and treatment options under current federal law.