We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.
Advanced Practice Nurses: Increasing Access to Opioid Treatment by Expanding the Pool of Qualified Buprenorphine Prescribers
Matthew Tierney , Deborah S. Finnell , Madeline A. Naegle , Colleen LaBelle , Adam J. Gordon
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2015
This editorial is noteworthy for appealing to a broad audience to promote Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorders. This significant change in practice would require a change to current federal law that currently grants only physicians the authority to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. The authors join other stakeholders, including professional organizations and communities throughout the US represented by numerous senators, by calling for APRNs to join the insufficient number of physicians now prescribing buprenophine in order to increase access to care in the context of ever-increasing morbidities and mortality associated with opioid use. APRNs are already involved in all other aspects of care for patients with opioid use disorder, and are known to be safe providers who are interested in providing this evidence-based treatment.