A new way of administering buprenorphine—a gold-standard medication that combats opioid addiction by reducing the need to use drugs like fentanyl to function—is helping people reduce their fentanyl use without the painful withdrawals that keep many users away from other versions of the medication. The new protocol, which the Downtown Emergency Service Center started using on a pilot basis last year, is less complicated and doesn't require people to "kick" drugs before starting treatment, making it easier for people to keep using it.
The protocol is expensive and paid for mostly by Medicaid, which the Trump Administration is threatening to cut.
We discussed all that and more with three special guests: DESC director Daniel Malone, medical director Richard Waters, and registered nurse Penelope Toland.
Quinn Waller is our editor.
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