Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorders Study 0920-1218 Revision 
2020-10-29 2020-10-20
CDC-2020-0091-0003 CDC-2020-0091-0002
04:00:00 04:00:00
https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/CDC-2020-0091-0003 https://api.regulations.gov/v4/comments/CDC-2020-0091-0002
Anonymous Anonymous
Anonymous Anonymous
Regarding the Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (hereinafter the agency) request for additional time to collect patient data regarding opioid addiction, there are a few things to consider. First, the patient recruitment period for this project was extended so it should have been expected that the processing of the collected data would also require some extensions in response. Also, there is practical utility in the information being requested by the agency because without treatment information to battle opioid addiction, we wont know what works and what doesnt. This information is necessary to the functions of the agency in their pursuit to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. While we are currently in the midst of a global COVID pandemic, we cannot set aside the opioid epidemic that has been ravaging this country for years now. Gathering this information is necessary to continue the fight against addiction in this country. While many Americans are currently out of work and facing economic difficulties due to the COVID pandemic, many may be turning to their addictions to cope. Now more than ever we need as much information as possible to assist in battling this debilitating addiction to opioids be it through medication-assisted treatment, or otherwise. It is imperative to obtain this information to find out what treatment is working and what is not, and what factors can contribute to a successful recovery. The agency has estimated a straightforward and minimal cost to obtaining this information but there are not many details on how this information will be obtained. The questionnaire to be submitted by the patients seems a minimal inconvenience to the patient and of a minimal cost to the agency to process. Due to a lack of details, it could be assumed that this questionnaire would be obtained through electronic means, through the mail, and possibly an in-person pick up or drop off site. An electronic portal would be the most convenient, but not all patients may have access to the technology needed to return the information requested. Having a secure address for each patient and including a self-addressed stamped envelope could go a long way in receiving the information back but also having a site for information pick up and drop off - possibly at the local health department or their treatment site, could all contribute to receiving the information from each patient participant with minimal inconvenience. The information collection costs cited by the agency are extremely low in comparison to the value of the information. When you contrast the costs of the estimated 300 hours it would take to process the returned information versus the recent $8 billion settlement against Purdue Pharma, it could even be argued that these efforts could be increased. Deaths have been on the rise since approximately 2014 and efforts need to be increased in understanding the addiction and what utilities we have available to battle the addiction. This request by the agency should be considered a low cost, inconvenient starting point. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) has been a wonderful option for those in need. I firmly believe that primary care providers should be not only Able to prescribe, but ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE this option for their patients. In so many areas the access to clinics that utilize MAT becomes more than another barrier to treatment- but a giant HURDLE that many folks cannot physically, economically, mentally, emotionally, and quite LITERALLY overcome. We need to end the stigma of being on medications to treat patients. Can you imagine...if everytime that you needed the medication to manage your blood pressure or high cholesterol... you had to drive 120 miles round trip, DAILY for 90 days, attend groups that inform you about the stuff that you already KNOW- or could simply GOOGLE  find out about your medical issue, possibly LOSE ACCESS to the medication because of human error that was made in a routine mandatory lab that you had no control over,  then had to deal with others who dont understand high blood pressure JUDGING YOU CONSTANTLY  shaming you for having it?Or, can we simply let primary care providers DO THEIR JOBS, TREAT THEIR PATIENTS, encourage those who seek treatment,  DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO ACCESS OF MEDICATION?! One more thing.... the idea that a human being needs to choose which debilitating illness- Acid Reflux (treated effectively with omeprazole) or Hypothyroidism (treated effectively with Synthroid) is insane! Oops....wait..that IS NOT THE CASE! Both of those diagnoses are JUST FINE TO HAVE TOGETHER. I meant these- PTSD/ANXIETY disorder (treated effectively with benzodiazepines) and chronic pain (treated Effectively with opiates). Humans who have established treatment regimens that are effective shouldnt have to suffer because of a non-healthcare provider gets to decide what is best for their health. 