The most important decision a clinician can make is to decide which medication assisted treatment (MAT) solutions can be applied for each patient who presents for care—whether in a law enforcement setting following an arrest or a hospital emergency room following an overdose. It is important for clinicians to examine their biases for and against MAT and how those biases may act to interfere with referral to and advocacy for the most appropriate treatment. Following this workshop the participant will be able to describe why it is important for the treatment community to advocate for access to a variety of strategies that can be used to treat or respond to opioid use disorder (OUD); what is needed to provide treatment which attempts to block, fill or repair opioid receptors in individuals with OUD; the structural and legal barriers to access to care for OUD; and how clinicians can act to improve access to care for OUD, which in turn can modify the trajectory of this disorder and the opioid crisis in the United States.

Dr. Barthwell is the chief medical officer for Treatment Management Company and the founder and CEO of Two Dreams, a comprehensive wellness center for the treatment of alcoholism and substance use disorders Her current work is focused on developing strategies to expand access to treatment, expanding practitioner knowledge of urine drug testing, and helping individuals and families prevent substance use disorders. Dr. Barthwell received the Betty Ford Award from the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse. In 1997, Dr. Barthwell's peers named her one of the "Best Doctors in America" in addiction medicine.

Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to: