Abuse of prescription buprenorphine, regulatory controls and the role of the primary physician.
BACKGROUND
Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist approved in several countries for the treatment of opioid dependence. It was approved in Singapore in 2002 for this indication, and is more widely available in the primary care setting and can be prescribed by all licensed physicians who have undergone designated training. There is limited literature addressing the risk of its illicit abuse via intravenous self-administration.


METHODS
We report 2 such cases of the abuse of prescription buprenorphine in the psychiatric consultation-liaison service of a general teaching hospital, the treatment approaches and outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
We also briefly review the indications, uses and abuses of buprenorphine in Singapore, and as reported in other countries, and the roles of primary care physicians, in order to stimulate greater awareness and understanding among specialists and general practitioners, who would encounter these patients in various settings.
Chua
Sze-Ming
SM
Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Lee
Tih-Shih
TS
D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012380:Role; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine