Opiate Addiction Treatment Moves to Office-Based Model

December 9, 2002 Opiate Addiction Treatment Moves to Office-Based Model On October 8, 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of buprenorphine hydrochloride administered in an office-based treatment - a new model that allows individual physicians to treat opioid addiction in their practice. Treatment for opioid dependence has traditionally been provided in federally regulated opioid treatment programs with limited involvement by physicians not employed in such programs. Subutex, contains only buprenorphine and is intended for use at the beginning of treatment for drug abuse. Suboxone, containing both buprenorphine and the opiate antagonist naloxone, is intended to . . .