AAAP BUPRENORPHINE TRAINING SESSIONS

Buprenorphine and Office-Based Treatment of Opioid Dependence

 SAMHSA Buprenorphine Info    Buprenorphine Physician Locator

 Other Organizations' Buprenorphine Trainings

BACKGROUND

    The "Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000" creates the long-awaited opportunity to expand treatment for opiate dependence into the mainstream of medical practice, increase the number of persons treated and have an important positive public health impact.  

    The legislation specifies several ways in which physicians can be considered "qualified" to prescribe and dispense buprenorphine in their offices for the treatment of opioid dependence. Some will need to complete training prior to notifying the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of their intention to begin prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence. Others, such as those certified in Addiction Medicine or Addiction Psychiatry or those who participated in clinical trials, are not required to complete any further training. However, it is likely that many physicians who are defined as qualified, by virtue of their subspecialty certification or specific experience, will elect to take part in an educational program to review the many elements involved in implementing this new treatment modality in a setting where pharmacological management of opioid dependence has not been provided before.

ABOUT THE TRAINING

    AAAP is one of five organizations designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to provide such training for physicians to dispense buprenorphine in office practice for treatment of opioid dependence. AAAP Buprenorphine Training Sessions meet the eight hour requirement.

    Participation in training will provide physicians with a comprehensive overview of buprenorphine prescribing and its safe and effective use in an office-based setting.

    This training is designed for physicians who are likely to treat opiate-dependent persons in their practice, such as those in family practice, general internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics and adolescent medicine specialists. 

This training would be most valuable for:

• Physicians and other primary care providers who are not addiction specialists who would like to provide treatment for opiate-addicted patients.

• Addiction specialists who provide treatment for opiate addiction and who want to increase treatment options.

• Addiction specialists who have not treated opiate addiction in their practices, but who want to learn how to do so.

WHEN & WHERE

    Training will be offered through national meetings, regional workshops and the Internet. Scheduled sessions will be posted on this website.  For more information, contact AAAP