email article There have been scant opportunities for optimism in the past year. COVID-19 has taken so much from us – our loved ones, our economic security, our sense of community. One positive in the midst of this chaos came in the form of an underreported policy change from HHS. On January 14, Admiral Brett Giroir of HHS announced relaxation of restrictions around prescribers' ability to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Specifically, the new rule removed the need for providers to obtain an "X-waiver" from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe buprenorphine. The X-waiver represents an enormous barrier to effectively addressing the nation's opioid use emergency. With over 83,000 deaths from opioid overdoses from June 2019 to June 2020 alone, the crisis represents a huge public health challenge. COVID-19 has only exacerbated this situation, with increases in depression, loneliness, and substance use. As people deal with the overlapping traumas of social isolation, loss of loved ones, and loss of livelihood, typical coping mechanisms may not be available or adequate. Rates of opioid use and associated overdose may continue to rise as the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic become clear.