Envisioning a Humane and Accessible US Methadone Treatment System: Generating Policy and Practice Recommendations From the Liberate Methadone Movement

Abstract

Methadone treatment (MT) for opioid use disorder saves lives, but the US MT system has long been dominated by punitive policies and practices that make MT inaccessible, burdensome, and traumatic for patients. After generations without changes to methadone regulations, a confluence of circumstance—including the COVID-19 pandemic and an overdose crisis that has taken over a million lives—has begun to shift the MT advocacy and political landscape. This commentary describes the building of the “Liberate Methadone” movement; a grassroots effort led by people with lived and living experience with methadone, addiction clinicians, researchers, community leaders, and people with many of these identities. The Liberate Methadone movement is dedicated to building a more accessible, equitable MT system that prioritizes patient health, promotes dignity, and is grounded in evidence. We describe the experience of planning and hosting a national conference and generating proceedings with recommendations for needed incremental and structural reforms within the US MT system. The lessons learned from this movement can motivate others across clinical, research, and policy roles to partner with and learn from patient and community-led groups, guiding needed reforms within systems of care. It is through these joint efforts and listening to those directly impacted groups who have been left out of the conversation for far too long, that we can successfully reduce overdose and suffering, toward better health, dignity, and thriving in our communities.