The American Medical Association (AMA) believes that science and compassion must continue to guide patient care and policy change as the nation’s opioid epidemic has become a more dangerous and complicated illicit drug overdose epidemic. The data shows that current policies are insufficient to increase access to evidence-based care for substance use disorders, pain and harm reduction initiatives. The AMA’s Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force formed to directly address the changing drug overdose epidemic, focus on removing racial, gender, sexual orientation and other health-related inequities, and provide updated recommendations to physicians, policymakers and other stakeholders.

The following national, state, and speciality societies are members of the Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force:

American Medical AssociationAmerican Osteopathic AssociationAssociation of American 
Indian Physicians
National Hispanic Medical 
Association		National Medical AssociationAmerican Academy of 
Addiction Psychiatry
American Academy of 
Family Physicians		American Academy of 
Hospice and Palliative Medicine		American Academy of 
Orthopedic Surgeons
American Academy of 
Pain Medicine		American Academy of PediatricsAmerican Academy of 
Physical Medicine and 
Rehabilitation
American Association of 
Neurological Surgeons / Congress 
of Neurological Surgeons		American College of 
Emergency Physicians		American College of Obstetricians 
and Gynecologists
American College of 
Occupational and Environmental Medicine		American College of 
Physicians		American College of Preventive 
Medicine (ACPM)
American Psychiatric AssociationAmerican Society of 
Addiction Medicine		American Society of 
Anesthesiologists
American Society of 
Clinical Oncology		Arkansas Medical SocietyCalifornia Medical Association
Colorado Medical SocietyMassachusetts Medical SocietyMaine Medical Association
Medical Society of the 
State of New York		New Mexico Medical AssociationOhio State Medical Association
Oregon Medical AssociationUtah Medical Association

Physicians must continue to lead, and policymakers must base further action on evidence-based interventions. The Task Force’s five recommendations build on previous work.