Resource Center: General information - buprenorphine, Psychosocial

Before starting office-based buprenorphine treatment, the following Patient Assessment Questions should be answered for each patient. Topics addressed in these questions include: Diagnosis, Medications, Drugs/Alcohol, Psychiatric and Medical Comorbidities, Psychosocial Issues, Treatment, Patient Management, and Resources.

The ASAM Patient Placement Criteria for the Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders, Second Edition-Revised (Mee-Lee et al. 2001) lists the 5 basic levels of care available for adult substance users. These levels of care range from Early Intervention (for at-risk individuals) to Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient Treatment (for patients with severe disorders who require around-the-clock care). The Patient Placement Criteria classifies opioid maintenance therapy as a Level I treatment since it is most often conducted in outpatient settings.

This website, funded by SAMHSA, is designed to help physicians to implement office-based buprenorphine treatment using a national network of trained physician mentors.

This document discusses the evidence for buprenorphine treatment of opioid dependent adolescents and young adults. It provides treatment recommendations, and highlights special issues that should be considered when treating this special population.