From Control to Care: Reframing Medication Access Policies Through Public Health Ethics.

Abstract

Dantuluri examines the ongoing prescription stimulant shortage driven by the Drug Enforcement Administration's quota restrictions and an ineffective and fragmented system of drug governance. We extend this analysis to carceral health systems, which operate under similar logics of control in managing risks, diversion, and liability around medications for opioid use disorder. In drawing these parallels, we explore how perceptions of risk, suspicion, and restrictive oversight can produce scarcity, reinforce stigma, and elicit judgments around "deservingness" that may ultimately widen treatment gaps. We conclude with actionable recommendations that align with public health ethics to promote equitable access to evidence-based treatment.