Diversion and Abuse of Buprenorphine: A Brief Assessment of ...

Once training is completed, the physician registers at SAMHSA
(http://buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/howto.html) to obtain a waiver. A certificate will be sent to
the physician with a special DEA license number amendment. This must be put on all
prescription. Prescribing without this number is a violation.
The “qualifying physician” must have the capacity to refer patients for appropriate
counseling and other services that might be needed in conjunction with buprenorphine
treatment. These include:
-Different levels of chemical dependency treatment services 1
-Psychiatric consultation
-Consultation for medical co-morbidities 2
-12 Step program
-Staff and patient education/training program 3
-Urine screening, either onsite or in conjunction with certified laboratory
-Coverage with knowledge and experience using buprenorphine and office policies
and procedures
-Medication security and storage
No more than 30 patients to be treated at one time per physician
As of July 2005 Congress passed legislation to adjust the 30-patient limit for physician
group practices that dispense buprenorphine in an office-based setting to individuals with
opioid dependence. Now, each physician in a group practice will be allowed to treat 30
patients with buprenorphine
3