Buprenorphine Access Remains Limited for Opioid Detox

Buprenorphine is a potentially life-saving medication used in medical opioid detox and withdrawal management but, according to a recent report, only a small percentage of those who need the medication ever receive it. Such lack of access to this important weapon in the war against opioid abuse isn’t just compromising people’s quality of life. It’s claiming lives.

The Benefits of Buprenorphine in Opioid Detox

Buprenorphine is an FDA-approved medication used to treat pain and opioid-use disorder. It works by limiting the effects of illicit opioids and making sobriety more comfortable for the person in recovery. 

Buprenorphine is commonly used in medically managed inpatient detox, residential detox programs and outpatient withdrawal management. This makes it a cornerstone of safe opioid detoxification.

By partially activating the brain receptors that typically respond to illicit opioid use, buprenorphine stops withdrawal symptoms and cravings in their tracks. And by blocking the brain receptors that allow illicit opioids to cause a high, they prevent relapse and overdose. 

It’s both safe and effective. So why isn’t it being used? 

Barriers to Buprenorphine Access in Opioid Detox Care

A major barrier to widespread buprenorphine prescription is a lack of healthcare providers qualified and willing to prescribe the life-saving medication. Their hesitancy can be explained in part by the stigma attached to medication-assisted treatment for addiction, but also largely rests on a lack of information and training. 

Doctors are often simply unaware that they possess the legal authority to prescribe the medication. Many are also ill-informed on the medication’s benefits for patients in recovery.  

Gaps in Buprenorphine Access for Rural Detox Patients

Although this lack of prescribers is an issue throughout America, it’s most apparent in rural areas. Geographically, buprenorphine providers are out of reach for three out of ten Americans in rural areas.

There may be a racial component to the buprenorphine barriers in place. Despite the fact that the number of deaths due to opioid overdose have significantly risen for Black people, they are still less likely to be prescribed buprenorphine than white patients. 

Further, long-acting buprenorphine injection options are often unaffordable for most people in need. Low-income individuals may be unaware of public funding and financial assistance options, including sliding-scale payment programs and Medicare and Medicaid programs for addiction treatment. 

Expanding Access to Buprenorphine for Medical Detox

If we want to increase buprenorphine use to help people overcome opioid use disorder, there needs to be policy changes that support this direction. 

By expanding prescriber eligibility, more doctors and healthcare workers will be able to prescribe buprenorphine. This would include giving correctional and residential treatment facilities increased access to the medication. 

Additionally, allowing telemedicine prescriptions of buprenorphine would make it easier for Americans in rural areas to access treatment without needing to travel to a provider. 

Training programs from the Drug Enforcement Agency should include buprenorphine-specific information to reduce the stigma surrounding medication assisted treatment and medication maintenance therapy. 

Find a Medical Detox That Offers Buprenorphine

If you’re ready to break the chains of opioid addiction, you don’t have to go it alone. You can find a qualified opioid detox program offering buprenorphine based medication assisted treatment, including inpatient and outpatient withdrawal management options.

Detox.com’s national directory allows you to easily find detox centers near you. You can also search for recovery programs by treatment type, level of care, services, and more. 

If you’re looking for immediate support, call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) today.