As a mental health counselor I have seen first hand how difficult it can be to get into a treatment program. If the individual relies on Medicaid for insurance the average wait time is about six months. At the annual School on Addictions in May many other providers echoed what my experience has been. Instead of locking people up we need to offer them treatment on a timely basis.

Another concern I have is for individuals who actually need opioid medications so that they can function on a day-to-day basis. I recently had a client who needs this medication. His former provider had moved away and he needs to find a new one. He was referred to both pain clinics and general practitioners. Every single one he called said that if he needs opioid medication they would not consider him as a patient without even getting basic information on his medical condition.  This is not someone who abuses these meds, but rather they allow him to work and lead a somewhat normal life.