Opioid Drugs in Maintenance and Detoxification Treatment of Opiate Addiction; Proposed Modification of Dispensing Restrictions for Buprenorphineand Buprenorphine Combination as Used in Approved Opioid Treatment Medications

December 5, 2012
This final rule from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) amends the federal opioid treatment program regulations by modifying the dispensing requirements for buprenorphine and buprenorphine combination products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for opioid dependence and used in federally certified and registered opioid treatment programs. In particular, this rule would allow opioid treatment programs more flexibility in dispensing take-home supplies of buprenorphine—removing restrictions on the time a patient needs to be in treatment in order to receive take-home supplies—after the assessment and documentation of a patient . . .