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Posted inCommunity Opinion

Persistent Stigma May Limit Access to Addiction Treatment for Orange County’s Most Vulnerable

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) uses FDA-approved drugs to improve and sustain recovery for opioid addicts. California and Orange County have embraced MAT, but lingering stigma from community members, physicians, and leaders of 12-step programs has limited its use. As a result, some portion of the 7000+ homeless in Orange County who could benefit from MAT do not receive it, and may miss an opportunity to recover and transition out of homelessness.