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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gregory Bunt, Former President of New York Society of Addiction Medicine, on Resolution 317
2:18:56
ยท
7 min
Gregory Bunt, former president of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine, testified on Resolution 317, which calls for mandating basic addiction treatment training in medical schools receiving state funding. He commended the resolution's intent but raised important questions about its implementation and current practices in medical schools.
- Bunt emphasized the dual approach in addiction treatment: rehabilitation towards recovery and harm reduction/overdose prevention
- He highlighted the need to define "basic training" in addiction treatment and suggested surveying current medical school practices
- Bunt recommended considering existing accreditation requirements and gathering more information before mandating new training
Gregory Bunt
2:18:56
Okay.
2:18:57
Can you hear me and see me now, chair?
Linda Lee
2:19:00
Yes.
2:19:01
We hear and see you.
Gregory Bunt
2:19:02
Okay.
2:19:03
Very good.
2:19:04
Okay.
2:19:04
Thank you for the opportunity and invitation to speak on this very important topic.
2:19:10
I believe I'm speaking on the the proposal that you sent me regarding a resolution calling in New York State to mandate basic training and addiction treatment as a requirement for medical schools that receive state funding.
2:19:31
Is that correct, Jerwam?
Linda Lee
2:19:33
Yes.
2:19:34
Oh, yeah.
2:19:35
We're hearing that bill today at the committee.
2:19:37
Yep.
2:19:37
That's one of the bills.
Gregory Bunt
2:19:39
And and and that's why why I'm being called to testify on that particular resolution.
2:19:46
Correct?
Linda Lee
2:19:49
Yes.
2:19:49
And if you wanna comment on the others, that's great.
2:19:53
But you don't have to.
2:19:54
Sorry.
Gregory Bunt
2:19:55
Okay.
2:19:56
Well and with regards to the others, I would just comment shortly that the role now of addiction treatment providers, is kind of, twofold.
2:20:10
One is treatment, that advances toward toward rehabilitation and recovery.
2:20:21
So significant periods of abstinence.
2:20:24
And the other, which is different really, is harm reduction and overdose prevention.
2:20:31
So it's a really two pronged approach.
2:20:35
So you have to understand what you're doing and both are important.
2:20:39
But those are the goals.
2:20:41
And I think a lot of the people who testified were speaking on those two different issues.
2:20:46
But, but those are two different, goals in terms of, treatment programs.
2:20:53
So I want to address now the resolution.
2:20:57
I believe you developed that resolution, Chair Lee.
2:21:01
You've you've mentioned that in your introduction, the one calling on the state to mandate basic training and addiction treatment in medical schools.
Linda Lee
2:21:13
Yes.
2:21:14
Go ahead.
Gregory Bunt
2:21:16
So, with regard to that, what you, lay out in terms of conceptual framework, think is excellent.
2:21:26
You talked about the impact of addiction on on the community, that it's the number one cause of mortality among young people, a real number one public health crisis.
2:21:44
It, also, that that overdoses, can be prevented.
2:21:51
But beyond overdoses, I wanna mention that addiction causes, extreme harm to not only individuals but families and communities.
2:22:03
The impact of addiction in terms of public health and community well-being is staggering.
2:22:13
So that should be understood not only her overdoses and overdose prevention a priority, but also the treatment of addictions which causes so much distress and tragedy among individuals, families and communities.
2:22:32
You mentioned that addiction is a treatable disease.
2:22:36
And as, as I said, it is a treatable disease, and you're spot on with that.
2:22:42
The goal of helping people rehabilitate and achieve recovery, is, really, important and many people do achieve recovery that involves sustained abstinence for significant periods of time.
2:22:59
So they're off drugs.
2:23:01
The harm reduction is another, priority, but, it's a public health issue and medical professionals play an important role that you state, which is, again, spot on.
2:23:15
So, do they get enough training in medical schools?
2:23:20
And I believe we can do better.
2:23:23
I believe that is why, you developed this resolution.
2:23:27
And I, I certainly, honor and respect you, for doing this, bringing attention to the importance of medical education, for, for the treatment of addictions, a treatable disease and the number one public health problem in our nation around the world.
2:23:54
As you mentioned, the use of opiates for the treatment of pain, doctors and medical students should know, the adverse effects of using those, but also the effectiveness when used judiciously and as prescribed.
2:24:10
That's different.
2:24:12
So, the comment the comments I have regarding your resolution chair, and again, I say this in due respect.
2:24:22
I commend and honor and respect you for this resolution.
2:24:27
Bringing attention to this most urgent critical matter is that, the resolution I believe States that, you would mandate, you would recommend to the state, New York state to mandate basic training and addiction treatment as a requirement for medical schools that receive state funding.
2:24:46
I think there are a few important questions, that, that should be answered.
2:24:53
First of all, what does it mean by basic training and addiction treatment?
2:24:59
If you mandate something, how much time is that going to take an effort in the medical schools and the faculty who develop the curriculum are going to want to know very specifically, what are you talking about?
2:25:10
How do you define basic training?
2:25:12
And the second is there is a course council on accreditation for higher education and they, do develop.
2:25:20
I'm not even sure, in an area I'm interested in, but I haven't kept up with the latest.
2:25:26
I don't know the current requirements by that council, but I think we should, we should know that.
2:25:33
And second, what medical schools are doing now?
2:25:38
I think there should be a survey, certainly the medical schools in the city that have curriculum.
2:25:44
Some medical schools are making significant progress.
2:25:47
We've worked with the New York Society of Addiction Medicine.
2:25:50
I'm the past president of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine, although I'm not speaking on their behalf.
2:25:57
I'm also the medical director of Samaritan Day Top Village.
Linda Lee
2:26:00
Yes.
Gregory Bunt
2:26:00
I'm not speaking on their behalf and I'm a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry in addiction medicine at NYU School of Medicine.
2:26:10
I'm not speaking on their behalf.
2:26:12
I'm speaking on my own.
2:26:13
But I I do think that a survey of what the medical schools are actually doing in terms of addiction treatment.
2:26:22
That is important to understand
Linda Lee
2:26:25
what And I'm so sorry, mister Bunt, if you could just wrap up, because I've gone over time.
2:26:30
Yes.
2:26:31
And then but these are actually really good suggestions that you're providing us right now.
2:26:34
And, also, if you could submit written testimony, that would be amazing because we wanna capture some of the ideas that you just mentioned.
Gregory Bunt
2:26:41
Yes.
2:26:42
Okay.
2:26:42
I'm I'm finished, but thank you.
Linda Lee
2:26:44
Thank you so much.