AMA offers vision for ending opioid epidemic at national summit

Dr. Patrice Harris, the chair-elect of the American Medical Association and the chair of its Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse, today laid out the AMA’s vision for ending the opioid epidemic.

Speaking at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, Harris highlighted the leadership roles that the AMA and individual physicians are playing — and must continue to play — to reduce the deaths from opioid overdose. And there are signs of progress from efforts by the Task Force, the AMA’s commitment to the Obama administration last October, and many medical society initiatives for demonstrable and measurable steps that physicians can take to reduce opioid misuse and diversion.