Combatting the Opioid Epidemic With Dr Michael Lynch

In this exclusive clip that is a companion piece to our podcast, “Combatting the Opioid Epidemic: Insights From the Front Lines,” Michael Lynch, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and an attending emergency physician and medical toxicologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, tells us more about the UPMC Toxicology Telemedicine Bridge Clinic.

He also highlights how all journeys to and on recovery are different and leaves a message of hope for anyone currently struggling with addiction.

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Transcript

Please tell us about yourself and the UPMC Toxicology Telemedicine Bridge Clinic.

My name is Michael Lynch, MD. I am board certified in emergency medicine, medical toxicology, and addiction medicine. I work clinically in all of those capacities at multiple hospitals in the UPMC Health System in Pennsylvania. I’m also senior medical director for quality and substance use disorder services at UPMC Health Plan.

Four years ago, I helped to found and currently direct the UPMC Toxicology Telemedicine Bridge Clinic with the support of both the UPMC Department of Emergency Medicine and the Health Services Division, as well as the support of UPMC Health Plan.

What is your message to those currently struggling with addition and opioid use disorder?

The most important message is hope. It's understanding that addiction is hard. It’s a brain disease; it's not a choice, it's not a moral failing. Sometimes I think that gets misunderstood and leads to a lot of stigma—but there is also hope. Like any chronic brain disease, there are treatments that are effective.

There may not be cures and it may be something that needs to be managed and faced through challenging situations throughout your life, but many people can live happy, fulfilling, satisfying lives in long-term recovery. And that recovery can look different for different people, whether it's with medication, whether it's with peer support or behavioral therapy, or just close family and friends.

There are many different journeys to recovery, but also a lot of people who are traveling that journey and living their lives. And there's no reason that anyone who, regardless of how bad they may feel in the throes of uncontrolled substance use disorder, there's no reason that anyone can't have a similar outcome and have a happy and satisfying life.