Buprenorphine

Go to U.S. Deparment of Health and Human Services

CSAT Division of Pharmacologic Therapies

The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) expands the clinical context of medication-assisted opioid addiction treatment by allowing qualified physicians to dispense or prescribe specifically approved Schedule III, IV, and V narcotic medications for the treatment of opioid addiction in treatment settings other than the traditional Opioid Treatment Program (i.e., methadone clinic). In addition, DATA 2000 reduces the regulatory burden on physicians who choose to practice opioid addiction therapy by permitting qualified physicians to apply for and receive waivers of the special registration requirements defined in the Controlled Substances Act.

What's New

SAMHSA and NIDA Convene Summit on Buprenorphine Treatment
The Summit convened February 21-22, 2008, in Washington, D.C. to bring together experts in epidemiology, pharmacology, toxicology, and addiction treatment in order to build upon the findings of the previous summits in 2003 and 2005. Participants assessed the successes, progress and continued barriers to access to opioid treatment with buprenorphine. Presentations identified best practices and useful clinical supports to enhance the quality of treatment. Participants identified strategies to address emerging issues and concerns. SAMHSA and NIDA will prepare a report on the proceedings. Use this link to view presentations.

Updated Physician Contact Information
Physicians, you can now update your own contact information. If you have given permission to post contact information in the Buprenorphine Physician and Treatment Program Locator, the information will be updated there, too. Use this link to go to the update form.

Diversion and Abuse of Buprenorphine
SAMHSA/CSAT reports on Buprenorphine diversion. A comprehensive report on the scope and nature of Buprenorphine abuse and diversion nationwide

Case Study on Vermont’s experience A brief assessment of emerging indicators

New Federal Law Increases Patient Limit
The Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006 (ONDCPRA) modifies the restriction on the number of patients a physician authorized under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) may treat subject to the following conditions:

Physicians must currently be authorized under DATA 2000.
Physicians must have submitted the notification for initial authorization at least 1 year ago.
Physicians must submit a second notification that conveys the need and intent to treat up to 100 patients (items 6 and 10) and certifies their necessary qualifying criteria (item 8) and their capacity to refer patients for appropriate counseling and other appropriate ancillary services (item 9), and they must sign and date the form.

For second notifications:

If you have an e-mail address, you can use this link to submit your notification on-line.
If you do NOT have an e-mail address, you can use this link to access a form pre-filled with information from your original waiver notification (HTML).
Use this link to access a blank form (PDF) to increase patient limits.

SAMHSA/CSAT will formally acknowledge your submission of the second notification by letter; however, unless you are notified of the contrary, the "good faith" submission of the second notification permits treatment of up to 100 patients.

To obtain additional information regarding this matter, contact the CSAT Buprenorphine Information Center at 866-BUP-CSAT (866-287-2728), or by e-mail at info@buprenorphine.samhsa.gov.

CSAT Director Informs Physicians of Increase in Patient Limits
Dr. Clark informs physicians of significant change in the use of Suboxone and Subutex in the treatment of opioid dependence with the Increase in Patient Limits.

CSAT Director Notifies Physicians of a New Feature to the SAMHSA Buprenorphine Physician and Treatment Program Locator
In an effort to make it easier for patients to locate physicians who can prescribe Buprenorphine, there is now a Multiple Address Feature that is available to certified physicians who have consented to having their information published on the Locator.

CSAT Director Advises Physicians of Concerns Regarding Buprenorphine
In the interest of patient safety and public health, Dr. Clark addresses concerns on Compounding and Selling Buprenorphine.

SAMHSA Evaluation of the Impact of the DATA Waiver Program
Results from this legislatively mandated evaluation study detail how the Drug Addiction Treatment Act 2000 has expanded opioid assisted treatment. The study presents physician and patient survey results on treatment outcomes, patient characteristics, prescribing trends, barriers to treatment, and other useful information.

Overview of the SAMHSA Evaluation of the Waiver Program

Some Preliminary Findings from SAMHSA Evaluation

Some Latest Results of the SAMHSA Evaluation

Updated Literature Review – done after the study was completed.

Summary Report of the Study – a summary of study findings, focused on those related to the determinations outlined in DATA 2000.

The SAMHSA Determinations Report – report from SAMHSA’s Administrator to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Congress, summarizing and commenting upon key findings from the study.

CSAT Director Encouraging Physicians to Sign-Up for the Buprenorphine Physician and Treatment Program Locator
If you are a physician holding a DATA waiver, or will be requesting a waiver, please read the Locator Disclosure Request (pdf, 38 KB) for more information on consenting to have your information published on the Locator.

Guidance for treating OTP Patients in Hurricane Impacted Areas.

Follow this link to view a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on office-based opioid addiction treatment featuring former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop.
[Realplayer file, need Realplayer to review]
If you do not have RealPlayer, you may download a free copy from Real Networks.

Buprenorphine Clinical Discussion WebBoard
SAMHSA announces the availability of a moderated, password-protected WebBoard for physicians holding waivers from SAMHSA for the treatment of opioid addiction under the authority of DATA 2000.

At the SAMHSA Buprenorphine Clinical Discussion WebBoard, member physicians may:

Ask and answer clinical questions about the use of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid addiction
Share their experiences, and learn more about this new form of treatment
Ask questions of an expert guest moderator each month

If you are a physician holding a DATA waiver, register here for the SAMHSA Buprenorphine Clinical Discussion WebBoard. Registration is free and may be cancelled at any time.

For Patients and Families
If you are looking for doctors or treatment programs in your area authorized to treat opioid addiction with buprenorphine, use the SAMHSA Buprenorphine Physician and Treatment Program Locator.

For Counselors
Designed for addiction counselors, this 3-hour online course, Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid Addiction—A Counselor's Guide, prepares counselors as they guide patients and their families on the use of buprenorphine in office-based and other healthcare and substance abuse treatment settings. Counselors learn about the effects, efficacy, and safety of this new treatment with the medication buprenorphine. Addiction counselors will also gain an understanding of their role in working in partnership with physicians as part of the therapeutic team providing opioid addiction treatment with buprenorphine.

To register or to learn more about the 3-contact-hour course, please visit the Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center and click on the graphic that reads "online courses."