In this episode, host, Dr. Christine Nefcy is joined by guest, Dr. Nick Rademacher, Grand River Emergency Medical Group, Assistant Clinical Professor, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and technical assistant with the Michigan Opioid Partnership. Dr. Rademacher discusses the many ways we can address stigmatizing and punitive practices and how it is vital that providers learn how best to recognize and eliminate stigmatizing behaviors in their own approach to care.  This episode outlines the common  misconceptions about treatment for opioid use disorder that inhibit access to evidence-based treatment and how to move past those. The strategies to better engage this population and what is the gold standard of care look like for patients with substance abuse. The conversation is closed out with the recent waiver changes and how this could affect physicians who want to prescribe.