Lack of support preventing some doctors from treating addiction: Study

The nation is facing an addiction crisis.

by Katie Smith | Jul. 18, 2024

Story at a glance

Overdose is a leading cause of injury-related death.

More than 46.3 million people in the United States live with substance use disorder.

A comprehensive new study suggests more effort should be spent creating professional settings that help doctors offer evidence-based addiction care.

(NewsNation) —Lack of support, resources, and proper training may be preventing some doctors from addressing and treating the nation’s addiction and overdose issues, according to a new study.

The Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) led and funded the systematic review, published this week in JAMA Network Open. Its findings suggest more effort should be spent creating professional settings that help doctors offer evidence-based addiction care while also creating more opportunities to learn and practice in those areas.

The comprehensive review looked at 283 studies published on the topic in the past 61 years. The most commonly referenced barriers were lack of institutional support, knowledge, skill, and mental bandwidth. The so-called institutional environment was the most frequently reported reason why a doctor might not intervene in addiction, cited in 81% of studies reviewed. It includes factors like resources, staffing, and training.

The next most common reasons were insufficient skill, lack of mental capacity to manage a certain level of care and inadequate knowledge. About 66% of studies cited negative social influences or beliefs about public and community acceptance of addiction care, possibly reflecting the stigma surrounding substance use disorder.

Another 56% said they worry addressing a patient’s substance use issues might harm the doctor-patient relationship.

Overdose is a leading cause of injury-related death, with more than 46.3 million people in the United States living with substance use disorder during the previous year, the study noted.