The main pathway to turning the tide of the opioid epidemic, is medicine for opioid use disorder (MOUD) Telemedicine, with Pharmacists being allowed to give intramuscualr (IM) Buprenorphine shots if needed. Additionally, patients who are revived with Narcan, should be given IM Buprenorphine immediately or medical cannabis for sustainable therapeutic medicinal therapy.
We must destigmatize mental health care for opioid use disorder, and, thus, Behavioral Health Wellness Centers should be established. Treatment regimens with Buprenorphine/Naltrexone/Medical Cannabis, as well as, the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) acupuncture protocol, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), should be first line treatment, and standard of care.
The solution to the eradication of the opioid epidemic is Telecounseling, Telegenetics, and Telemedicine MOUD. A patient who is admitted to a Behavioral Health Wellness Center should have a pharmacogenetic test, and a spinal tap to evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for neurometabolic deficiencies, that are a part of the organic component of mental illness. The organic components of mental illness must be treated aggressively, to minimize the neurospychiatric side effects, and weight gain with current psychiatric drugs.
Ultimately, it’s all hands on deck, relative to healthcare clinicians, such as Doctors, NP’s, PA’s and Pharmacists, so that there is a possibility of stemming the tide of the opioid epidemic, and mental illness in the United States of America.