Mary R. Walton and R. Douglas Bruce
Buprenorphine, a highly effective yet underutilized medication for opioid dependence, is crucial to tackling the current global opioid epidemic. Multiple studies have identified the need for more clinical information to increase confidence in delivering buprenorphine treatment. This article provides a practical guide to assist in educating inexperienced buprenorphine prescribers on relevant subjects involved in inducting, stabilizing, maintaining, and discontinuing patients on buprenorphine. This guidance intends to serve as a useful resource, particularly in low-resource or rural settings, to empower practitioners in buprenorphine treatment to expand the numbers of prescribers necessary to assist in diminishing the unrelenting opioid crisis.