Research Article, J Addict Behav Ther Rehabil Vol: 4 Issue: 2
Buprenorphine Prescribing Availability in a Sample of Ohio Specialty Treatment Organizations
Todd Molfenter1*, Carol Sherbeck1, Mark Zehner1 and Sandy Starr2 |
1University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA |
2Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), Columbus, Ohio 43215, USA |
Corresponding author : Todd Molfenter, Ph.D University of Wisconsin– Madison, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Tel: 608.262.1685 E-mail: todd.molfenter@chess.wisc.edu |
Received: March 17, 2015 Accepted: May 18, 2015 Published: May 20, 2015 |
Citation: Molfenter T, Sherbeck C, Mark Zehner, Starr S (2015) Buprenorphine Prescribing Availability in a Sample of Ohio Specialty Treatment Organizations. J Addict Behav Ther Rehabil 4:2. doi:10.4172/2324-9005.1000140 |
Abstract
Buprenorphine Prescribing Availability in a Sample of Ohio Specialty Treatment Organizations
Buprenorphine, a medication for treating opioid dependence, is underutilized in specialty addiction treatment organizations. Only physicians who have obtained a buprenorphine prescribing license or “waiver” may administer this medication. A limited number of physicians are pursuing this waiver, and a concern in the substance use disorder treatment field is that the shortage of prescribers could be contributing to the low use of buprenorphine at specialty addiction treatment centers. The objective of this study is to assess Ohio specialty treatment organizations’ access to buprenorphine prescribers and the barriers they encounter when seeking new physician prescribing capacity.