"Why can't you be like my old doctor?" This essay explores my experiences as a new family physician in a rural town endemic with liberal opioid prescribing practices and opioid addiction. I detail my inner turmoil while overcoming resistance to change, the influence of these experiences on my professional growth, and my decision to offer medication-assisted treatment.
Keywords: addiction; opiate substitution treatment; opioids; substance-related disorders.
© 2017 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.