Statement attributable to:
Bobby Mukkamala, MD
President, American Medical Association
“As leaders from across medicine, pharmacy, and public health convene today at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, our message is clear: collaboration across care teams is essential to addressing the nation’s evolving substance use and overdose epidemic.
While recent declines in opioid-related overdose deaths represent meaningful progress, this epidemic tragically continues to affect millions of families. Accelerating progress requires continued investment in physician-led, team-based, community-centered care. Physicians, pharmacists, public health leaders, and policymakers must work together to ensure patients with opioid use disorder and pain can access timely care and stay on a path to recovery.
The American Medical Association is committed to expanding access to proven treatments for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine and methadone, which remain underused due to stigma, regulatory barriers, and insurance restrictions. We also continue to advocate for greater access to affordable, over-the-counter naloxone and its widespread availability in emergency departments and communities.”
Editor's note: In January, the AMA published its 2025 Report on Substance Use and Treatment.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
