Medication-Assisted Treatment Should Be Part of Every Family Physician’s Practice: Yes

What a powerful piece by David Loxtercamp, a call to action for those of us on the sidelines. Having trained in the midst of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, it is easy for me to recognize the similarities of our current public health disaster that has unfolded before our eyes, abetted by the medical profession, these past two decades. David's piece in the Annals from 2006 ( http://www.annfammed.org/content/4/2/168.full.pdf+html ) is an equally powerful essay, as he summarizes the experiences of all of us practicing in communities everywhere, acknowledging the barriers but encouraging us to confront our own fears and stigma, and grow as professionals as we help our families and communities. Through our actions and advocacy, we may one day help a family member or friend recover.

Competing interests: None declared