Fatal Drug Overdose Risks of Health Care Workers in the United States
Authors: Mark Olfson, Melanie M. Wall, Carlos Blanco
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2024)

LettersFebruary 2024Fatal Drug Overdose Risks of Health Care Workers in the United StatesMark Olfson, MD, MPH, Melanie M. Wall, PhD, Carlos Blanco, MD, PhDMark Olfson, MD, MPHDepartment of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, Melanie M. Wall, PhDDepartment of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, Carlos Blanco, MD, PhDDivision of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Rockville, MarylandAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L23-0472 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE: We are grateful to Drs. Wood and Bach for emphasizing the importance of increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder for health care workers with this condition. No scientific justification precludes these individuals from receiving these medications (1). Instead, individual fitness for work should be carefully determined on the basis of relevant occupational demands and professional standards. As in other areas of medicine, health care workers with opioid use disorder should have access to the most effective treatments, which includes integration of medications for opioid use disorder into their treatment plans (2). Education might help more closely ...References1. Maglione MA, Raaen L, Chen C, et al. Effects of medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder on functional outcomes: a systematic review. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2018;89:28-51. [PMID: 29706172] doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2018.03.001 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 63. Publication no. PEP21-02-01-002. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2021. Google Scholar3. Brown AR. Health professionals' attitudes toward medications for opioid use disorder. Subst Abus. 2022;43:598-614. [PMID: 34520703] doi:10.1080/08897077.2021.1975872 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Mark Olfson, MD, MPH; Melanie M. Wall, PhD; Carlos Blanco, MD, PhDAffiliations: Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New YorkDepartment of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New YorkDivision of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Rockville, MarylandDisclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M23-0902. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoFatal Drug Overdose Risks of Health Care Workers in the United States Mark Olfson , Candace M. Cosgrove , Melanie M. Wall , and Carlos Blanco Fatal Drug Overdose Risks of Health Care Workers in the United States Evan Wood , and Paxton Bach Metrics Current IssueFebruary 2024Volume 177, Issue 2KeywordsAddictionAllied health care professionalsHealth care providersMortalityNursesOpioidsPhysiciansSuicideTechnicians ePublished: 20 February 2024 Issue Published: February 2024 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2024 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...