Biden drug czar: ‘All options are on the table’ for expanding methadone access

WASHINGTON — The federal government is aggressively exploring ways to increase access to methadone, a key Biden administration official told STAT.

Methadone, a common addiction medication, is the most effective drug currently used to treat opioid use disorder. But it is only available in the context of specialized methadone clinics, making it nearly impossible for many patients to obtain.

As opioid overdose deaths have skyrocketed in recent years, a growing number of doctors, patient advocates, and public health experts have pushed to allow patients to receive methadone the same way they receive any other medication: at a doctor’s office or pharmacy.

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