1. United States
2. W.V.
3. Letter

West Virginia must maintain access to opioid treatment programs, as banning these critical services would have devastating consequences. Methadone and other medication-assisted treatments are proven effective in treating opioid addiction and reducing overdose deaths. Forcing programs to cease operations would abruptly cut off care for many individuals struggling with substance use disorder, potentially driving them back to illicit opioid use and exacerbating the opioid crisis. Rather than restricting treatment options, we should be expanding access to evidence-based addiction care and working to destigmatize medication-assisted treatment. Opioid addiction is a chronic disease, and those affected deserve compassionate, science-backed support - not punitive measures that endanger their recovery. I urge reconsideration of this harmful legislation that would endanger lives and undermine efforts to address the opioid epidemic.