Editing Opioid Crisis in Philadelphia (section)

=== Treatment ===

Treatment expansion has increased availability of medication-assisted treatment using buprenorphine and methadone, medications that reduce cravings and block opioid effects. Insurance coverage expansion and regulatory changes have improved access, though treatment capacity still falls short of need. Many people seeking treatment face waitlists or cannot find providers accepting their insurance.<ref name="opioid"/>

Treatment retention remains challenging, with many people cycling through multiple treatment episodes without achieving sustained recovery. The chronic, relapsing nature of addiction means that single treatment episodes often fail to produce lasting results. Recovery support services, housing, employment assistance, and other wraparound services improve outcomes but are not consistently available.<ref name="opioid"/>