Citation

Edelman EJ, Fiellin DA. Ann. Intern Med. 2017; 166(4): 307-308.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American College of Physicians)

DOI

10.7326/M16-2666

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Despite internists' landmark contributions to the treatment of opioid use disorder, most internists do not provide such treatment. Fifty years ago, the internist Vincent Dole, citing growing heroin use, called on the medical profession to develop a new attitude toward addiction, better educate itself on the topic, avoid moral frameworks, and advance therapies with a focus on improved patient function rather than avoidance of medications (1). Along with another internist, Mary Jeanne Kreek, he conducted pivotal research developing methadone as a treatment for opioid use disorder--one that can decrease crime, infectious disease, and overdose. They developed office-based treatment models with methadone that have informed health care systems internationally. Forty years ago, Donald Jasinski's pioneering research led to the use of buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (2)....

Language: en