According to a commentary, in countries where methadone is available but limited to dedicated methadone programmes, there is a need to change policy to make methadone more widely available. The commentators reiterate that drug use is an illness, for which methadone is an essential medicine and must be made available to all people who inject drugs (PWID). However, they note that this study showed those PWID at the highest risk are not enrolling in methadone maintenance therapy; therefore, even more intensive and innovative efforts will be needed to reach this group if the UNAIDS goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030 is to be achieved.