Focusing on the Opioid Crisis

Keep Focused on Addressing the Opioid Crisis

The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and its more than 13,000 members represent nurses who have advanced organizational, prioritization, assessment and communication skills and are leaders in coordinating care among the interprofessional health care team.

Medical-surgical nursing is practiced in several settings across the health care industry, including hospitals, outpatient settings, in homes, via telemedicine and other non-traditional settings. As the only national professional organization representing the voice of medical-surgical nursing, our strategic mission for patients and their access to high-quality, affordable health care includes continuing focus on addressing America’s opioid crisis.

Treatment, not stigma, is needed for people with this chronic relapsing brain disease

Medical-Surgical Nurses say Evidence-based policy and access to coverage and treatment are needed to eliminate stigma of opioid use disorder and save lives.

Medical-surgical nurses work with patients in every state of life - including their most vulnerable moments. Addiction to opioids or other substances affects a person’s health and dramatically shapes their treatment. But because of stigma about opioid use disorder (OUD), concern about treatment, or lack of access because of significant treatment gaps in America, many people do not get the treatment they need to move to recovery.   

Evidence-based policy improves lives and outcomes, reduces costs

Health policy, health care delivery and payment systems should support evidence-based treatment for persons with OUD. The 2020 Office of National Drug Control Policy National Treatment Strategy recommends closing the treatment gap through early intervention, improving treatment delivery systems, and improving substance use disorder treatment itself.

AMSN Request
Support health plan coverage of services covering evidence-based treatment of opioid use disorder which improve health outcomes and reduce costs from preventable readmissions to the hospital. Support full funding of evidence-based initiatives for research, workforce development, and treatment of OUD.