Connect to Care: Expand access to SUD treatment and related supports
(cont’d)
Expand treatment capacity and improve treatment quality in North Carolina
Set up advisory groups of people who currently or formerly use drugs across Opioid
Treatment Programs (OTPs) statewide to improve treatment quality, address common
barriers, share community-based best practices and drug trends, and reduce stigma.
Expand dissemination of the best practices guide for buprenorphine treatment in
different healthcare settings throughout North Carolina.
Increase the number of medical schools, NP/PA training programs, and residency
programs that provide addiction training, and increase opportunities to work with
patients with substance use disorders during training programs.
Increase the number of waivered providers that are prescribing medications for opioid
use disorder (MOUD), including through technical assistance and training opportunities.
Explore opportunities to utilize telehealth, telemedicine, and mobile services to increase rural access to treatment.
Ensure sufficient office-based opioid treatment for the uninsured, including access to
medications.
Ensure that substance use treatment utilizes evidence-based principles following the
ASAM model, e.g., includes access to medications to treat substance use disorder, does not require failure at abstinence before receiving MOUD, prevent people from being
discharged from treatment for continued substance use.
