Addictive substances activate the brain's reward system causing euphoria and reinforcing drug-taking behavior. Continued drug use causes neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain.^3,4 Changes in metabolic brain activity, receptor systems, gene expression, and sensitivity to environmental cues can occur.⁵

The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA) allows physicians who meet certain qualifying criteria to use Schedule III, IV and V narcotics for office-based treatment.^6,7 Buprenorphine is the only drug approved for this type of opioid dependence treatment.

Office-based treatment with buprenorphine answers a critical need. Escalating non-medical use of prescription opioid pain relievers threatens to overwhelm available treatment resources. Approximately 4.4 million people currently use prescription pain relievers nonmedically⁸ without their physicians knowledge and an estimated 2.4 million have used heroin some time in their lives.⁷

These patients could be in your community, and in your practice. Regulated opioid treatment programs are limited. Existing services can treat fewer than 210,000 patients nationwide at any one time.⁹ Now, physicians can manage this medical condition more effectively with office-based buprenorphine treatment.

To treat with buprenorphine, physicians must complete 8 hours of training in the management of opioid dependence.* Choose a training program now to get qualified.