The US opioid epidemic: A public health crisis and opportunity for implementation research

Mark A. McGovern, PhD
Stanford University

Abstract: The US opioid epidemic has exposed a significant gap in access to evidence-based care for persons who suffer from opioid use disorders. Although effective medications exist for opioid addiction, they are not widely available. This presentation describes several system level initiatives to increase reach and adoption, in efforts close the implementation gap. An emphasis will be on lessons learned, and how more rigorous implementation research methods may be brought to bear to address this major public health problem.