Buprenorphine: blending practice and research.
Although pharmacotherapy has been a mainstay in opiate addiction, not much research in the development of new opiate medications has been translated into clinical practice. In part, this is because opiate pharmacotherapy has not been an integral element of mainstream medical practice and because new medications developed by research are not available to clinicians. All that will change with the availability of buprenorphine for addiction treatment. For the first time in nearly a century, clinicians will be able to treat opiate addicts in the general medical setting, in the same manner they treat other patients. The unique pharmacological properties of buprenorphine, with its high patient acceptance, favorable safety profile, and ease of clinical administration, should facilitate its clinical integration. However, successful implementation will require changes in the understanding and attitude of clinicians, policymakers, and society.
Ling
Walter
W
Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, 11075 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA. lwalter@ucla.edu
Smith
David
D
D001315:Australia; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D014481:United States
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine