Common Misperceptions About Buprenorphine Prescribing for Opioid Use Disorder

Unlike the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in which primary care and infectious disease subspecialists shared responsibility for treating patients, the current opioid use disorder epidemic relies mostly on the expertise of primary care physicians, who now provide the majority of buprenorphine treatment.3,4 Although many physicians have made substantial efforts to provide care, additional support is needed to increase access to buprenorphine and improve care quality. [...]the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 requires that patients can be referred to counseling, not that they actually participate.7 Some patients benefit from dedicated behavioral interventions; however, others need only continued support from their prescribing physician. [...]patients' use of benzodiazepines—licit or illicit— should not obstruct their access to potentially life-saving buprenorphine.