Office of Medical Communications

Kelly Peck, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry

(DECEMBER 13, 2023) Kelly Peck, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, spoke to WCAX-TV about obstacles to opioid use recovery.

Peck is currently studying medications for opiate use disorder, or MOUD. The medications are part of what is known as the hub and spoke model. Vermont was the first state in the nation to implement the model. The hub refers to the place where people can go for a higher level of care at the beginning of their use of MOUD. It’s the only place people can access methadone, which activates opioid receptors similarly to narcotics. Spokes are primary care offices or outpatient addiction services in communities, places where White has worked.

MOUD attempts to stop cravings and/or withdrawal symptoms. “If your goal is to abstain from non-prescribed opioid use, these medications are going to give you the best shot at that,” Peck said. “I think one of the challenges that we face now is how do we make treatment even more accessible.”