Re: “This medication is a lifeline for first responders and people in crisis” (Feb. 28, Opinion):
Thank you to author Keith Sharp and first responders who advocate for real solutions for people with opioid use disorder. Leadership on all levels should listen to workers on the front lines. Suboxone is one such example.
As mentioned in the op-ed, medications like Suboxone “are safe, evidence-based treatments proven to support people who want to reduce or stop opioid use.” Thank you for the story of a person who was in an overdose situation who went on to successful treatment. This is where funding is needed to get a hold of the gravity of OUD and its consequences for the person, families and communities.
I am a nurse in Seattle who also works with substance use disorder patients. Societal and funding obstacles prohibit us from moving forward, even one person at a time. This is what it’s going to take. My hope, as I read this piece, is that Suboxone will be as easily available as Narcan, along with strong support systems for affected people, front-line workers and communities that have become numb to the situation.
We must act on this hope.
Teresa Williamson, RN, Lake Forest Park
