As the rate of opioid overdose deaths in the United States continues to rise, lawmakers and government leaders have used policies and laws to target what they see as a major contributor to the epidemic: lack of access to residential treatment for opioid users who wish to stop using. In Massachusetts, substance misuse prevention specialist Gary Langis knows better. “Treatment is great, no question,” he said. “But you can’t go until you’re ready.”
As the rate of opioid overdose deaths in the United States continues to rise, lawmakers and government leaders have used policies and laws to target what they see as a major contributor to the epidemic: lack of access to residential treatment for opioid users who wish to stop using. In Massachusetts, substance misuse prevention specialist Gary Langis knows better. “Treatment is great, no question,” he said. “But you can’t go until you’re ready.”