The American Medical Association (AMA) believes that science and compassion must continue to guide patient care and policy change as the nation’s opioid epidemic has become a more dangerous and complicated illicit drug overdose epidemic. The data shows that current policies are insufficient to increase access to evidence-based care for substance use disorders, pain and harm reduction initiatives. The AMA’s Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force formed to directly address the changing drug overdose epidemic, focus on removing racial, gender, sexual orientation and other health-related inequities, and provide updated recommendations to physicians, policymakers and other stakeholders.
The following national, state, and specialty societies are members of the Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force:
American Medical Association
American Osteopathic Association
Association of American Indian Physicians
National Hispanic Medical Association
National Medical Association
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
American Academy of Pain Medicine
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
American Association of Neurological Surgeons / Congress of Neurological Surgeons
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
American College of Physicians
American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM)
American Psychiatric Association
American Society of Addiction Medicine
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Arkansas Medical Society
California Medical Association
Colorado Medical Society
Massachusetts Medical Society
Maine Medical Association
Medical Society of the State of New York
New Mexico Medical Association
Ohio State Medical Association
Oregon Medical Association
Utah Medical Association
Physicians must continue to lead, and policymakers must base further action on evidence-based interventions. The Task Force’s five recommendations build on previous work.