Wowzers Methadone Man! The emergency signal in the Bupratena is off the scales!
We have no time to waste, Buprenorphine Babe! Quick,
let's see who it is! --Thank goodness, Methadone Man and Buprenorphine Babe! We have a serious problem in the U.S.!
in the U.S.?
What can possibly be wrong there? --A wave of discrimination is sweeping across the heartland of America. Injection drug users can't get methadone or buprenorphine!
It was my impression that methadone and buprenorphine programs are available to those
who need them in the US. --Not so fast, Methadone Man!
If you live in rural areas, these life-saving medicines are still very hard to find.
It seems that treatment programs are having a hard time being implemented. But why?
It seems like somebody is spreading fear
throughout the area.
Oh no, that's terrible! But who?
There's only one
fear monger capable of such a retched act! --Oh no, not again Methadone Man!
The evil Mr. Stigma! --Quick,
to the Methapeople-porter!
Ah ha! There he is! I knew it was him. --So we meet again, Methadone Man and Buprenorphine Babe.
Bumbling bupres, it looks like the evil Mr. Stigma is getting ready to use his
toxic stigma gas to spread fear among the community!
Yes that's right, Buprenorphine Babe! Once I release
my stigma gas,
not a single methadone or buprenorphine program
will be available for 1,000 miles!
[evil laughter]
This time you've gone too far evil Mr. Stigma! --1,000 miles Buprenorphine Babe?
But how will people be able to access our life-saving programs when they have to travel
so far? --I hope we're not too late Methadone Man. Let's bupremethatize him and put a stop to him once and for all!
Oh no Methadone Man! --Rats, looks like he got away!
Looks like the evil Mr. Stigma has succeeded in using his toxic stigma gas to spread fear
of drug treatment programs among the community!
That's awful! Methadone
and buprenorphine maintenance programs help save lives!
No kidding Buprenorphine Babe!
And in the US, HIV rates among people who inject drugs are still a serious problem.
If everyone had access,
treatment programs would help prevent HIV by reducing needle sharing.
And what's more is that life-saving medicines are our human right!
Anyone who wants treatment should have the right to receive it no matter where they live!
And without having to jump through hoops to get it.
But with thousands of people waiting for methadone and buprenorphine treatment in the
heartland of America,
how will we ever help them all by ourselves? --I'm afraid you're right Methadone Man.
We can't do it alone.
Then how will we ever stop his toxic stigma gas?
We need your help!