The addiction and overdose crises in the United States are affecting us all. More than 2.5 million people are estimated to suffer from opioid use disorder. Nearly 50% of voters report having been close to someone with addiction or having been addicted themselves. Just last year, more than 106,000 people in this country died from an overdose — a record high. Inconsistent access to treatment, coupled with stigma, can deter people in need from seeking addiction care. Only 11% of people with opioid addiction received medication for opioid use disorder in 2020, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

When I served as the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Trump administration, we made it our mission to expand access to buprenorphine, which blocks withdrawal symptoms and makes it easier for people with addiction to discontinue opioid use. Buprenorphine is safe to take at home and has been shown to reduce the risk of overdose significantly among people taking it for opioid use disorder.