How deep-rooted medical bias creates deadly consequences for addiction patients

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that patients with documented substance use disorders received pain management medications at lower rates than patients without such diagnoses, even when presenting with identical conditions. Medical professionals cited concerns about addiction risk as a primary reason for withholding treatment in internal medicine surveys conducted between 2020 and 2024. The American Society of Addiction Medicine documented that fewer than 10 percent of individuals meeting criteria for opioid use disorder receive medication-assisted treatment, despite clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness.

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