Study: Educating prescribers may help buprenorphine uptake

Abstract

More than a year ago the X‐waiver for buprenorphine prescribing was eliminated, but that did not increase prescribing (see https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.33832). States where the preauthorization requirement was eliminated did not see increases in buprenorphine prescribing (see https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.33956). So what is the problem? A study published last month, “Prescriptions for Buprenorphine in Michigan Following an Education Intervention,” compared counties that had education about buprenorphine for prescribers with those that didn't and found that educating general (not addiction) clinicians might be one solution. (Addiction medicine specialists already know how to prescribe buprenorphine.)