Helping patients with substance use disorder: The nurse practitioner role in access to treatment

Over 21 million people in the United States require substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. However, less than 4 million people receive treatment. The surge of deaths due to opioid overdose requires aggressive public health interventions. This article will describe the role of the hospital emergency department (ED), not simply in emergency treatment of overdose but as a provider of care for underlying addiction and as a catalyst for change in our approach to drug use as a society. It has been found that EDs and hospitals serve as an important point for initiating treatment for SUDs. It is important to provide equitable access to care because the ED serves as an important access point for those with socioeconomic disadvantages. This article presents case studies and the nurse practitioner role in providing medication for addiction and treatment in the ED while also addressing misconceptions about treatment.