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The Other Epidemic, Bruce Deighton

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

The epidemic level of opioid abuse in the U.S. population continues to present a major challenge to our society and to the medical profession. Medical education has a significant role in improving screening, diagnosis, appropriate treatment and management of opioid use disorder. Addressing the problem of overprescribing opioids through physician education, surveillance and opioid management has resulted in significant improvement, translating to fewer overdose deaths from prescription opioids. Graduate medical education can increase access to care by training more addiction medicine specialists, and training other physicians to prescribe buprenorphine and provide access to medically assisted care.