Topic in Focus: Substance Use Disorders

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AMA Update

Rising cervical cancer rates and a new at-home screening test for cervical cancer

Jul 24, 2025 | 10 Min Read
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6 reasons to join the AMA

1 Min Read
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Dr. Patrice Harris speaking at an event
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4 Min Read

Changes overdue on how substance-use disorders are covered, treated

The AMA is “laser-focused” on removing barriers to treatment for opioid-use disorder—including eliminating stigma, says the organization’s president, Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA.

Behavioral Health
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5 Min Read

Dec. 20, 2019: State Advocacy Update

Walmart EPCS delay, new tool from AMA, APA and ASAM and more in the AMA's latest state and local advocacy efforts.

Advocacy Update
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3 Min Read

ED innovation boosts access for patients with opioid-use disorder

Two emergency doctors’ efforts help ensure patients obtain appropriate follow-up medication-assisted treatment.

Behavioral Health
Tani Malhotra, MD, maternal fetal medicine fellow
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3 Min Read

This doctor advocates for pregnant patients with opioid-use disorder

Maternal and fetal medicine fellow Tani Malhotra, MD, knows the fear felt by mothers with opioid-use disorder. She’s working to make better policy to address it.

Behavioral Health
AMA member speaking during 2019 Interim HOD Meeting
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1 Min Read

AMA to boost education on methadone maintenance therapy

Methadone has been used for 40 years to treat opioid-use disorder. AMA adopts policy to explore expanding access.

Behavioral Health
Delegate speaking at the microphone during the 2019 HOD Interim Meeting
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2 Min Read

Doctors back innovative local efforts to battle opioid epidemic

Communities’ situations are unique, but a strategy effective in fighting the opioid epidemic in one area can have useful lessons for programs elsewhere.

Behavioral Health
Female delegate speaking into microphone at the 2019 HOD Interim Meeting.
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2 Min Read

AMA touts pathways to train more addiction medicine physicians

Only one in 10 patients with a substance-use disorder receives treatment. New pathways give doctors a chance to become addiction medicine specialists to fill that treatment gap.

Behavioral Health
Laptop surrounded by medical graphics
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4 Min Read

Teleconsultation efforts help fill gaps in specialty care access

“Move knowledge, not people” is the principle behind an innovative program that demonstrates the power of solving problems through collaboration.

Digital
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6 Min Read

Nov. 14, 2019: National Advocacy Update

Sexual orientation and gender identity anti-discrimination, conscience rule and rights to refuse care and more in the latest AMA national health care advocacy news.

Advocacy Update