As the opioid and polysubstance overdose crisis continues in the U.S., health systems and providers are implementing innovative models to better meet the needs — and save lives — of people with substance use disorder (SUD). Unfortunately, few people with SUD receive the care or treatment they need. This means that individuals with SUD often come into contact with providers in acute care settings due to medical complications related to substance use, yet are too often seen by medical staff who lack the training to deliver the best possible care for these patients.

The Better Care Playbook recently spoke with Sarah Wakeman, MD, Medical Director for Substance Use Disorder at Mass General Brigham, to learn about how quality addiction medicine programming can be implemented in general medicine settings, including primary care, inpatient, and emergency departments. The conversation highlights the ever-present barriers that result from societal stigma for people with SUD, as well as the ways that health systems, payers, and policymakers can push to address SUD just as they do other treatable medical condition.