That story drew a large audience response, including questions and criticism. On August 28, NPR went back on the air to answer it.
Correspondent Brian Mann took listener questions about the evidence, the medications and whether emergency departments can realistically do this work.
Why NPR Revisited the Story
One listener who identified herself as a nurse practitioner expressed that it was unfair to describe medical professionals as treating patients with addiction with suspicion or hostility.
Others asked whether the medications in the original report actually work, and whether overwhelmed emergency rooms are being held to an unreasonable standard.
The stakes Mann laid out were based on findings from different studies. Research shows about 80% of people with substance use disorders never get treatment for their addiction.
About a quarter million people in the United States die each year from alcohol and opioids. Researchers told NPR many of those deaths are preventable.
As reported in the earlier story, the reporting centered on Jean Descamps, a 26-year-old man discharged from an Oregon emergency room in 2023 despite concern from local police about his condition. He died of an overdose from drugs already in his system.
What the Evidence on Clinician Stigma Shows
Asked directly what backs the stigma claim, Mann pointed to decades of surveys that have been conducted. A study published in 2000 found that a third of nurses and one in five doctors viewed addiction as a moral or spiritual issue rather than a treatable disease. A 2021 study described the same pattern as “explicit discrimination.”
That line of thinking from medical professionals may shape what happens before a treatment search begins. A person who is turned away, lectured or discharged without a referral typically does not try again quickly.
Medications That Work and Rarely Get Prescribed
Buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone reduce cravings for opioids and alcohol, and the data behind them appears strong.
Mann cited a 2023 study finding that patients with opioid addiction who were prescribed buprenorphine after an overdose had a 62% lower chance of later dying from another overdose.
Dr. Judy Chertok, who treats patients with addiction in Philadelphia, told NPR she was surprised by how well the medications worked once she began using them, describing addiction as something she had wrongly assumed was difficult or impossible to treat.
Doctors interviewed by NPR said buprenorphine and naltrexone in particular are no more difficult to prescribe than other common medications. Most patients still never receive them.
For people comparing addiction treatment programs, this may be a practical filter. Medication-assisted treatment combines an FDA-approved medication with counseling and behavioral support, and not every facility offers it.
Emergency Rooms and the Capacity Question
On whether stretched emergency departments can absorb this work, Mann put the question to Dr. Itai Danovitch of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Danovitch said hospital staff should treat people with substance use disorders with the same standard of care they bring to a heart attack or a car crash.
The same standard of care would mean stabilization, initiating treatment and linking the patient to continuing care. He described all three as achievable.
He acknowledged the difficulty in places without enough trained and willing clinicians, but said hospitals should still be offering more patients the medications that work.
Why Addiction Care Sits Apart From Other Access Problems
Listeners also asked whether this is simply the general American struggle to find good, affordable health care. The doctors, researchers and officials Mann interviewed said addiction is different.
They express that addiction care is harder to get whether people are living on the street or have homes, jobs and health insurance and still leave their doctor’s office without help.
What This Means for Treatment Seekers
A clinician’s discomfort isn’t necessarily a verdict on whether treatment will work for you. If a doctor declines to discuss medication or dismisses the concern, you can perhaps choose to seek a second opinion.
When comparing programs, ask directly whether a facility prescribes buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone, and how it handles the handoff from an emergency visit or detox into ongoing care.
Finding the Right Rehab
Start by comparing treatment options on medication availability, credentials and continuity of care rather than amenities. Verify how each facility bills insurance for addiction treatment, and ask what happens in the first 72 hours after admission.
Rehab.com’s directory lists verified treatment centers with levels of care, accreditation, and insurance details so you can screen for the programs that offer the care described here. Call
800-985-8516
( 
Sponsored Helpline )
to learn more about your treatment options.
