Resource Center: Journal abstract

Presently, methadone is the recommended treatment for opioid-dependent pregnant women, but is associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS is characterized by opioid withdrawal symptoms in the newborn, which often requires longer hospitalization and treatment. Buprenorphine, FDA-approved in 2002 for the treatment of opioid dependence in non-pregnant individuals, hasn't been extensively studied during pregnancy. Yet, a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that buprenorphine offers an alternative to methadone in the treatment of opioid-dependent pregnant women. The study compared buprenorphine to methadone in 131 mothers and their newborns at eight international sites.

This study found that specialists and PCPs perceive the quality of their communications with each other differently regarding referral and consultations. Physicians who did not receive timely communications regarding referrals or consultation reported that it impacted their ability to provide high quality care. This highlights the importance of effective referral as a clinical skill, and the need to improve inter-profession communication between primary care physicians and specialists.

This article gives advice on the practical aspects of setting up a buprenorphine clinic based on one hospital's experience.

Article describing eight different ways to identify and help drug-seeking patients in your practice.

This study examines the cost-effectiveness of buprenorphine maintenance therapy for treating opioid addiction.

Journal abstract that examines whether there's an association of ethnicity and race with treatment response to buprenorphine.

A very long-term longitudinal study of heroin addicts. The information presented is excellent, although the experiences of heroin addicts who began using the drug in the late 1960s may be substantially different from the experiences of modern addicts.

This study largely focused on children of parents who abuse alcohol but also contains some information on children of drug users.

This 2009 article discusses a study of home induction for buprenorphine treatment; the results supported the hypothesis that home induction is a feasible and safe option.

This study compared the buprenorphine treatment outcomes for patients who were dependent on prescription opioids versus patients who were dependent on heroin. Based on a total of 200 patients, the study found that patients dependent on prescription opioids responded better to buprenorphine treatment.