Using buprenorphine in opioid treatment programs.

This presentation provides a detailed introduction to the use of buprenorphine (Subutex) and buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) in the treatment of opioid dependence. The presenter, Allan J. Cohen, is the director of one of the community treatment programs (CTPs) involved in the new CTN platform study, NIDA-CTN-0027, “Starting Treatment with Agonist Replacement Therapies (START),” a project that will compare the physical effects of buprenorphine with methadone.

In this presentation, Cohen describes in detail the various phases of buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence and describes Subutex/Suboxone as safe, well-tolerated, effective, and clinically flexible medications with low abuse potential that can be used for maintenance or medically supervised withdrawal. Buprenorphine is also easily integrated into diverse settings (outpatient treatment, offices, hospitals, residential treatment, etc.), and has the potential for enhancing management of special populations. Cohen continues by briefly comparing buprenorphine with methadone and LAAM, and discussing training/education and cost issues related to the prescribing of Subutex and Suboxone.

Related protocols: CTN-0027