More than 80,000 Americans and 3,300 Pennsylvanians died of an overdose last year. Despite the staggering cost of substance use disorders, treatments are woefully underutilized.

For instance, medication treatments for opioid use disorder including methadone and buprenorphine halve the risk of dying of an overdose, but fewer than 20% of people with opioid use disorder are actually treated with medications.

There are many reasons, but difficulty navigating the healthcare system to access care due to complexity, transportation, work, childcare, and stigma associated with treatment all contribute. I know this from my experience as a doctor and medical school professor.

Same day care

In 2020, the UPMC Department of Emergency Medicine established the Toxicology Telemedicine Bridge Clinic, ta

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