The Authors’ Own Words:
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.
Molly Doernberg BA; Noa Krawczyk BA; Deborah Agus JD; & Michael Fingerhood MD
Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 2, 2019
“Buprenorphine is proven to be a safe and highly effective medication treatment for opioid disorder, yet a misguided perception that it is prone to diversion results in increased stigma and an overly restrictive regulatory climate. The limitations placed on access to treatment can have dangerous and even fatal consequences. This manuscript reviews literature showing that illicit buprenorphine is often used for self-treatment among persons who are not accessing formal care and argues that we should work to make it more accessible, especially among criminal justice populations that are often denied any medication treatment. It is intended that this manuscript will encourage clinicians, treatment programs, funding agencies, and criminal justice bodies to focus on lowering barriers to legal buprenorphine and to improving quality of care, thus reducing the burden of overdose death in our communities.“
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