New Buprenorphine Mentoring Program Announced
The American Society of Addiction Medicine
(ASAM), in conjunction with the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), has developed a mentoring program
aimed at helping physicians become more confident
in prescribing buprenorphine to patients
with opioid addiction, Alcoholism & Drug
Abuse Weekly reported Sept. 13.
Under the program, a national network of
50 trained physician mentors with experience
in treating opioid addiction with buprenorphine
will serve as a clinical support system.
They will assist doctors who have already
received the required training and federal
permission to treat patients with buprenorphine
but are seeking more "hands-on experience" or
guidance in the drug's use.
Although federal approval for the use of
buprenorphine to treat heroin and narcotic
painkiller addiction was granted in 2002,
doctors have been slow to embrace the treatment
because of the requirements necessary to
administer the drug and issues pertaining
to the logistics of providing the treatment.
"This new program will assist physicians
in developing the skills and confidence they
need to treat patients addicted to heroin
or prescription narcotic pain medications," said
Charles Curie, the SAMHSA administrator.
Source: www.jointogether.org |
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