Expanding Access to Methadone: A Policy Shift in Motion
Two companion publications released 7/28/2025 spotlight a major opportunity to modernize methadone treatment in the U.S. The peer-reviewed article, Reducing Stigma and Expanding Methadone Access in the U.S.: The Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act and Beyond, appears in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Authored by Drs. Julio C. Nunes and Bryon Adinoff, the paper offers a detailed analysis of the bipartisan Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access (MOTA) Act. A lay-friendly opinion piece by Dr. Nunes, published in Psychiatric News, shares the human stakes behind the bill, highlighting real-world stories of patients whose recovery is hindered by outdated policies. Together, these publications argue for a healthcare-based, stigma-reducing approach to methadone access. To ensure accuracy and clarity, the authors interviewed the office of U.S. Senator Edward Markey, lead sponsor of the MOTA Act.
The MOTA Act would allow addiction physician specialists to prescribe up to 30 days of methadone for opioid use disorder, to be dispensed through community pharmacies; similar to how methadone is prescribed for pain and mirroring policy in other countries (e.g., France, England, Australia). It also solidifies telehealth for ongoing treatment. If passed, the bill could expand access, particularly in rural and underserved communities, reduce the stigma tied to daily clinic attendance, and better integrate addiction care into mainstream medicine. This policy shift is grounded in global evidence and pandemic-era data demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of less restrictive methadone models. As the opioid crisis continues to claim tens of thousands of lives each year, the MOTA Act represents a timely and necessary intervention.
Interview with Dr. Nunes from health journalist Emma Yasinski (audio & transcript)
.svg)
