In this new data bulletin dated June 2024, no. 2024-03, OASAS discusses the number of deaths from accidental overdose relative to those in Substance Use Disorder treatment.

In this study, deaths after discontinuing SUD treatment for 90 days or less was found to be 342 out of 51,171 persons in treatment. Based on this rather limited study, they have come up with a comprehensive plan which includes;

• promoting retention of mobile medical units,
• supporting reductions and cessation of, substance use over time, rather than an 'abstinence-only' focus.
• increasing reliance on shared decision making regarding medication dosing, take-home doses, and treatment goals.
• removing the counseling requirement to receive ongoing treatment
• anti-stigma staff training
• implementing proactive naloxone and drug checking test strip distribution during treatment.

My questions

• What are the statistics when the study period is more than 90 days?
• are you eliminating abstinence as a valid goal? If you are supporting reduction and cessation of treatment over time, why are you not supporting abstinence when treatment is stopped?
• why remove counseling as a requirement to continue medication? Aren't you concerned about the easy access to a drug which is dangerous, even fatal to someone without an SUD, or the ease at which this drug can be obtained and sold?
• My question is always why are we focusing on stopping fatal overdoses rather than addressing the addiction cycle which precipitates the need to use the drug?