David Hebert (JD '82) Publishes Article on Opioid Crisis -- Time Magazine

Pepperdine Law alumnus David Hebert (JD '82) has co-authored an article published in Time magazine titled, "One Possible Solution to the Opioid Crisis in the U.S. Has Been Inexplicably Ignored." Hebert is the CEO of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Excerpt from "One Possible Solution to the Opioid Crisis in the U.S. Has Been Inexplicably Ignored"

But the U.S. is suffering from a severe shortage of primary care professionals; a whopping 80 million Americans lack adequate access to primary care. The shortage is particularly bad in rural areas, where patients are "almost five times as likely to live in a county with a primary care physician shortage compared to urban and suburban residents," according to a 2018 UnitedHealth Group report.

This presents a serious problem for those seeking substance-abuse treatment. Without access to primary care professionals, addicted patients struggle to receive the care they need. Right now, nearly 80% of Americans addicted to opioids aren't receiving treatment.

Empowering nurse practitioners to treat addiction—and removing unnecessary restrictions at the state level—can go a long way in liberating American patients.

The complete article may be found here