Expert Insights
Students from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine recently won the Representation in Research award from the American Society of Addiction Medicine for their student-led research on the availability of buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone) in South Florida’s outpatient pharmacies.
Medical students served as staff members for a clinic run by the Miller School with a focus on providing medical care for ID drug users. And it was through that experience that Miller School medical students Maria Rodriguez and Alina Syros learned that FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder can dramatically reduce the mortality rates of those who are dependent on opioids like fentanyl, heroin, or oxycodone.
Despite the life-saving possibilities, locals still face enormous barriers to treatment, which prompted the students to advocate for proper access to buprenorphine. They interviewed 200 randomly selected pharmacies in the area, with the majority being large national chains.
When the data was finalized, the students found that 62% of pharmacies had no buprenorphine available. Rodriguez and Syros say the next step is to use their findings to make meaningful change at the local pharmacy level to bridge the gaps in treating opioid addiction.
~ Rita Milios
Resources
- University of Miami Health System and Jackson Health System. (2021). 2020 Community Health Needs Assessment Miami-Dade County, Florida.
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (2022). Medical Examiners Commission 2020 Annual Report.
- Florida Department of Health. (2022). Adults Who Engage in Heavy or Binge Drinking.
- Miami Dade County. (2022). Substance Abuse Treatment Programs.
- Preuss, U. W., Schaefer, M., Born, C., & Grunze, H. (2021). Bipolar Disorder and Comorbid Use of Illicit Substances. Medicina, 57(11), 1256.
