Dr. Goodman-Meza: People are understandably scared about fentanyl. Watching the news, you see more calls for criminalization and punishment. But as a doctor who specializes in addiction, our focus should be on expanding treatment and making options more accessible.
Methadone or buprenorphine are medications that are highly effective treatments. By taking one of these you cut your risk of dying of an overdose in half.
If you’re not ready to stop using drugs, make sure to use as safely as possible. Harm reduction programs can help people access safer injecting and smoking equipment, naloxone, fentanyl test strips and other supports like testing for infectious diseases and referrals for treatment.
Lastly, overdose prevention centers are facilities where people can be monitored while using drugs. They connect people with addiction services and social support, including housing services.
About Dr. Goodman-Meza: Dr. David Goodman-Meza is a Mexican-American physician and scientist focused on the intersection of infectious diseases and addiction. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Addiction Medicine. Over his career, he has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications along topics related to substance use disorders and infectious diseases.
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