Buprenorphine Supply, Access, and Quality: Where We Have Come and the Path Forward. Issue 2 (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Breen, Christopher T.; Fiellin, David A.
• Other Names: Ayres Ian guest-editor.; Gluck Abbe R. guest-editor.; Stith Kate guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of law, medicine & ethics. Volume 46:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 272
• Page End: 278
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Medical laws and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; Jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Legislation, Medical -- Periodicals; Legislation, Nursing -- Periodicals; Ethics -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Societies -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation; Medical ethics; Medical laws and legislation; United States; Periodicals; 344.73041
• DOI: 10.1177/1073110518782934
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-1105

Abstract

Buprenorphine is a form of opioid agonist treatment that has been demonstrated to be an effective medication for opioid addiction. It is available in different formulations and marketed under various trade names, including commonly as a buprenorphine/naloxone combination. This paper provides an overview of existing literature on the supply of buprenorphine treatment, the ability of people to access treatment with buprenorphine, and the quality of treatment received. We argue that better data for each of these aspects of treatment could inform policy to expand effective treatment with buprenorphine, and we suggest steps to obtain and act on such data.