ImportancePrescription opioid dependence is increasing and creates a significant public health burden, but primary care physicians lack evidence-based guidelines to decide between tapering doses followed by discontinuation of buprenorphine hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride therapy (hereinafter referred to as buprenorphine therapy) or ongoing maintenance therapy.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of buprenorphine taper vs ongoing maintenance therapy in primary care–based treatment for prescription opioid dependence.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsWe conducted a 14-week randomized clinical trial that enrolled 113 patients with prescription opioid dependence from February 17, 2009, through February 1, 2013, in a single primary care site.InterventionsPatients were randomized to bupre…

ImportancePrescription opioid dependence is increasing and creates a significant public health burden, but primary care physicians lack evidence-based guidelines to decide between tapering doses followed by discontinuation of buprenorphine hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride therapy (hereinafter referred to as buprenorphine therapy) or ongoing maintenance therapy.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of buprenorphine taper vs ongoing maintenance therapy in primary care–based treatment for prescription opioid dependence.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsWe conducted a 14-week randomized clinical trial that enrolled 113 patients with prescription opioid dependence from February 17, 2009, through February 1, 2013, in a single primary care site.InterventionsPatients were randomized to bupre…

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with higher doses of buprenorphine/naloxone was associated with a longer time to treatment discontinuation, less resource use, and lower total medical costs despite higher pharmacy acquisition cost.
PMID: 25295655 [PubMed – in process] (Source: Postgraduate Medicine)

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with higher doses of buprenorphine/naloxone was associated with a longer time to treatment discontinuation, less resource use, and lower total medical costs despite higher pharmacy acquisition cost.
PMID: 25295655 [PubMed – in process] (Source: Postgraduate Medicine)

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have begun studying whether iPads with facial recognition software can verify that patients are taking medications prescribed to combat drug abuse.

The software from New York-based AiCure is designed to confirm that a patient ingested the right medication at the right time.

The clinical study involving 140 patients focuses on Suboxone, a medication prescribed as maintenance therapy for opioid addiction, said Dr. Eugene Somoza of the Cincinnati Addiction… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have begun studying whether iPads with facial recognition software can verify that patients are taking medications prescribed to combat drug abuse.

The software from New York-based AiCure is designed to confirm that a patient ingested the right medication at the right time.

The clinical study involving 140 patients focuses on Suboxone, a medication prescribed as maintenance therapy for opioid addiction, said Dr. Eugene Somoza of the Cincinnati Addiction… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Abstract
For Teens with Opioid Use Disorders, Bupe Better than Detox‐Rehab‐Relapse
Providers Should Use Insurance Mandate in Pennsylvania
DEA Investigates NFL Teams for Painkiller Abuse
Medicaid Expansion Enabled More Recovery Services in Ohio
For Suboxone, Goodbye Reckitt, Hello Spinoff Indivior
Coming up (Source: Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly)

Abstract
For Teens with Opioid Use Disorders, Bupe Better than Detox‐Rehab‐Relapse
Providers Should Use Insurance Mandate in Pennsylvania
DEA Investigates NFL Teams for Painkiller Abuse
Medicaid Expansion Enabled More Recovery Services in Ohio
For Suboxone, Goodbye Reckitt, Hello Spinoff Indivior
Coming up (Source: Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly)

CONCLUSIONS: The use of buprenorphine products to treat opioid dependence has increased significantly in the past 10 years and has shifted to greater use by primary care physicians, indicating a rapidly changing face of opioid maintenance therapy in the United States. (Am J Addict 2014;XX:XX-XX).
PMID: 25409987 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal on Addictions)

Authors: Soyka M
Abstract
Opioid maintenance therapy with methadone or buprenorphine is an established and first-line treatment for opioid dependence. Risk of diversion and toxicity of opioid prescription drugs, including buprenorphine, causes significant concerns. This is particularly the case in the United States, where the number of related emergency visits is increasing, especially in children. A systematic literature research (Medline, Pubmed) was performed to assess the risk associated with buprenorphine. The search, which was not limited to particular publication years, was performed with the key words buprenorphine AND toxicity (114 counts ) AND children (4 counts) and buprenorphine AND mortality AND children (5 counts). In addition, the author obtained information from rel…