AMA report shows national progress toward reversing opioid epidemic

CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) issued a new report today documenting how physician leadership is advancing the fight against the opioid epidemic.

The report, which is being released as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force meets for the first time, found a decrease in opioid prescribing and increases in the use of state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), number of physicians trained and certified to treat patients with an opioid use disorder, and in access to naloxone.