More primary care doctors, specialists prescribing buprenorphine to treat patients for opioid addiction

by Joanne Finnegan |      

Jan 10, 2019 11:04am

Given the country’s opioid crisis, multiple laws across the country were changed to allow more physicians to prescribe buprenorphine to help patients addicted to opioids.

Those changes appear to have paid off.

According to a new study in Health Affairs, the number of primary care physicians and specialists prescribing buprenorphine during office visits increased significantly over a nine-year period.

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Insurance Rules Restricting Access to Addiction Treatment Medication

By Susan Navarez 

The medical profession has of late started accepting the need for medications pertaining to prescription drug addiction help bringing a ray of hope to people suffering with opioid use disorder (OUD). However, a recently conducted study by clinician scientists at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, observed that insurance rules are restricting the usage of the prescription drug medicine, buprenorphine, among Medicare beneficiaries.

Buprenorphine is considered to be an effective and secure medication for treating heroin and other types of opioid addiction, thereby helping in decreasing deaths caused due to the same. According to the study co-author, Dr. Todd Korthuis, head of addiction medicine at OHSU, patients administered buprenorphine are seen to return to their pre-addiction healthy state.

Ironical move by Medicare insurance companies

In an OHSU news release, Dr. Korthuis said that ironically, while insurance companies offering Medicare policies are making it quite challenging for doctors to prescribe buprenorphine, they are making it relatively easier for them to prescribe opioid pain relievers which led to the current opioid epidemic.

For the purpose of this study, the clinician scientists carried out an analysis of data pertaining to Medicare Part D prescription drug plan and noticed that due to the increasing usage of certain pre-authorization conditions, the prescription of buprenorphine was increasingly restricted among insurance beneficiaries who signed up for Medicare plans between 2007 and 2018. Insurers commonly use pre-authorization conditions in order to restrict or manage access to certain medications to restrict costs.

The study findings revealed that around 90 percent of the insurance plans offered buprenorphine without any restrictions in 2007. However, the percentage dropped to nearly 35 percent by 2018. On the other hand, during the aforementioned time period, the percentage of plans covering prescription opioids like OxyContin sans any limitations, increased from 93 to 100 percent.

The researchers stated that the factors influencing buprenorphine restrictions may reflect inaccurately perceived drug associated risks like financial considerations or societal norms associated with addiction. The findings of this study were recently published in a research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Benefits of prescribing buprenorphine

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), buprenorphine is one of the three medications approved by the FDA for treating OUD and helps in easing withdrawal symptoms and the associated pain and discomfort. Daniel Hartung, an associate professor at the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, stated that as Medicare does not and never did cover methadone, the other anti-opioid medication prescribed for treating patients battling OUD, it is important that it provides access to buprenorphine.

According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), prescription medications such as buprenorphine are an effective means of treating opioid addiction. Unfortunately, said Dr. Korthuis, a lot of people still hold the opinion that treatment of addiction with medications is not really the road to recovery. But scientific evidence backs the fact that medicines such as buprenorphine present a higher success rate at recovery than merely resorting to approaches based only on abstinence.

Seeking prescription drug addiction help

Millions of people have lost their lives to the opioid crisis that is presently ravaging the United States, while millions of others are facing the same predicament. There is no doubt that it would take a mammoth effort to deal with the prescription drug crisis.

If you or a loved one is battling an opioid addiction and is scouting for a reliable prescription drug abuse center, feel free to get in touch with the Invictus Health Group by calling our 24/7 prescription abuse treatment helpline 866-548-0190. At Invictus Health Group, we offer comprehensive evidence-based treatment plans for substance abuse and mental health disorders. You can also chat online with our expert who can guide you with prescription drug addiction help and suggest rapid detox programs best suited to your requirements and medical history to set you on the path to lasting recovery.

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Suboxone Treatment: The Frontline of Recovery

By Anna Woodward 

Doctors have turned to the use of new medications to treat the disease of addiction. To curb the ever-growing problem of opioid abuse, Suboxone treatment is on the rise and is now a popular option among physicians. Traditional methods such as methadone or inpatient rehabilitation, while still in use, are being replaced as a primary option. In combination with counseling and social support, Suboxone carries people along the process of recovery and restores hope to countless individuals.

Catalysts of Recovery

The life-changing drug is a combination of Buprenorphine, a synthetic opiate, and Naloxone, which acts as an opioid blocker. Buprenorphine attaches to the same pain receptors as other narcotics such as heroin or oxycontin. Due to its chemical structure, it relieves the patient of detox symptoms but does not produce the "high" associated with painkillers. Also, its ceiling effect lowers the risk of overdose which can be a danger of methadone use.

Sturdy Foundations

Physicians report its use as being a critical part of the recovery process for their patients. While allowing outpatient access, patients adhere to strict dosing limits and times during the first phase of their treatment. Being a requirement for some programs, group therapy and meetings with counselors create a well-rounded regimen. Patients are still able to fulfill vocational requirements and meet family commitments without having to attend a costly inpatient rehabilitation center.

Assistance of Authorities Key to Ending Abuse

To combat the accelerating opioid epidemic, the federal government has shown support for suboxone treatment. Expanding availability and allowing providers to prescribe the drug to more patients has been proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In defense of the proposal, the previous limits on the number of possible patients cut down access to the pharmaceutical. Therefore, people who need the assistance will not be able to get it.

The Affordable Care Act has created several more opportunities for patients seeking Suboxone treatment. Substance abuse is now required coverage by plans on the government's insurance marketplace. Likewise, new plans seeking to lower drug abuse and overdoses have been proposed. Naloxone has also been encouraged by federal programs as an effective drug in combatting addiction.

Accessibility: From First Responders to Local Pharmacies

Naloxone quickly reverses the effects painkillers have on the body. It is commonly used by emergency rooms to recover users from overdoses, but in the past, its availability has been confined only to hospitals. On some occasions, people have died en route to the hospital or while waiting for ambulances to arrive. In 2016, the federal government issued funds to states to help distribute the drug and train first responders on how to use it. In some states, Naloxone can now be purchased over the counter at local pharmacies.

Suboxone treatment, with the support of the government and the number of lives being saved, has given new hope to people suffering from drug addiction and doctors alike. Buprenorphine, a safer opiate replacement to assist in detox, in combination with the life-saving properties of Naloxone, is now a primary medical option.

When considering suboxone treatment, visit R Health Matters. Learn more at http://rhealthmatters.com/suboxone-therapy/.

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Moderation is Key to Treating Substance Use Disorder

By Barbara Odozi 

Even as millions of Americans struggle with abuse of one substance or the other every year, very few of them seek treatment for their problem, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has found out. As per SAMHSA's 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), although 21 million people aged 12 or older needed treatment in the past year, only about 3.8 million sought it. In the age group of 12-17, 1.1 million needed treatment for substance abuse but only 0.7 percent of them got it.

Most long-time drug users show reluctance in entering into rehabilitation. They fear that they would have to abstain completely during their stay. Even those who are keen on forfeiting their habits find it hard to adjust to the "no substance abuse policy" from day one. Complete abstinence implies avoiding not only drugs, but also people and places that remind the users of former times.

Shift towards moderation

In recent times, the new way of dealing with the opioid crisis is moderation. In a radical policy shift, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been encouraging the use of alternative drugs, such as methadone and buprenorphine, against the common belief of complete abstinence. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb recently mooted a proposal that would facilitate treatment with an opioid substitute for life, if necessary, for all those who suffer a nonfatal overdose. In fact, in Massachusetts, more than 50 percent decrease was witnessed in the risk of death from overdose among patients treated with methadone or buprenorphine after a nonfatal overdose. Gottlieb cited the data to substantiate his point.

Not just opioids, but also other means of substance abuse such as alcohol show better results when moderation is practiced rather than total abstinence. A 2012 paper on problem drinkers favored moderation management in "cognitive restructuring and behavioral self-control enhancement."

Some of the advantages of following a moderation policy are as follows:

Gets more people to the door: The policy encourages more people to attend a rehab program. Many patients believe that the purpose of a treatment should be to rectify problematic behaviors rather than forcing abstinence.

Helps distinguish between chronic and experimental use: Most college students experiment with drugs and alcohol due to different reasons. Though it is a risky practice and involves risk of getting addicted gradually, not every adolescent who experiments with a drug or a cocktail develops a substance use disorder. Warning a teen about following abstinence arouses further curiosity and in all probability, he or she will indulge more.

Fence-sitters more likely to seek help: Those with a neutral opinion about whether to opt for treatment are more likely to seek help if moderation is advised. However, with time, they may realize the advantages of staying sober and willingly choose a life of sobriety instead of being forced to adopt one.

Being allowed to use a less potent drug provides comfort: Methadone and buprenorphine are used to treat opioid addiction in some cases. They suppress the withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings by working on the same reward centers in the brain affected by other drugs. Whether the drug seekers are aware of this or not, they may be relieved to know that their drug habit is not fully curtailed.

Increased probability of a person continuing with the treatment: A person who is given the option of moderation is more likely to continue with the treatment than the one without.

Road to recovery

Addiction to any addictive substance like prescription drugs, illicit drugs or alcohol can be treated and detoxification is the first step. It is important in helping a patient respond positively to medication and therapies by cleansing his or her body of the toxins. Detox can be successful only when it is practiced under the supervision of a mental health expert. Self-detox can be dangerous, or even fatal.

The Colorado Detox Helpline is a trusted resource that provides credible information about various detox centers in Colorado offering specialized recovery programs. Call our 24/7 helpline 866-730-5807 for further information.

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