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The National Alliance of Advocates
for Buprenorphine Treatment

Buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®3, Zubsolv®4, Bunavail™5, Probuphine®6) is an opioid medication used to treat opioid addiction in the privacy of a physician's office.1 Buprenorphine can be dispensed for take-home use, by prescription.1 This, in addition to the pharmacological and safety profile of buprenorphine, makes it an attractive treatment for patients addicted to opioids.2

30 - 100 Patient Limit

Limits on the number of patients buprenorphine-prescribing physicians can treat at any one time.
Brief Summary: In 2000 Congress passed DATA-2000, a law that allows physicians, to become eligible to prescribe specially approved opioid-based medications specifically for the treatment of opioid addiction. (read full text of law below) Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®) and buprenorphine (Subutex®) became the first medications to be approved and affected by this law. If physicians take and pass an 8 hour course and meet other qualifications, they become eligible to apply for a special waiver which allows them to treat addiction with above mentioned medications. This same law, void of any supporting science, caps the number of addicted patients a physician can treat at any one time to 30 through the first year following certification, expandable to 100 patients thereafter. No other medications have such restrictions, including the prescription drugs people get addicted to and die from. Like many well-intentioned laws, the unintended consequences are significant.
Reasons to end these arbitrary government-mandated limits on life-saving care

How prescribing physicians can increase their limit:

Currently authorized physicians under DATA-2000 who have submitted their original "intent" at least one year ago can increase their government mandated patient cap to 100 patients. Other DATA-2000 authorized physicians are limited to saving 30 patients at any one time.

SAMHSA has made it easy to expand the limit by automating the process. Click here to go to the “On-Line Notification Form to Increase Patient Limit” Page. Simply enter your DEA#, State, and State Lic# and submit right there. If the site is down or you prefer to fill out the form by hand, you can download the new "intent" form here and Fax it to 240-276-1630 or mail it to the address on the second page of the form, below the signature box.


SEC. 1102. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT AMENDMENTS. Public Law 109-469 -12/29/2006

    Public Law 109-469 (Formerly Bill H.R.6344)

    Section 303(g)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)(2)) is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking 'except that the' and inserting the following: 'unless, not sooner than 1 year after the date on which the practitioner submitted the initial notification, the practitioner submits a second notification to the Secretary of the need and intent of the practitioner to treat up to 100 patients. A second notification under this clause shall contain the certifications required by clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph. The'; and

    (2) in subparagraph (J)--

(A) in clause (i), by striking 'thereafter' and all that follows through the period and inserting 'thereafter.';

(B) in clause (ii), by striking 'Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000' and inserting 'Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006'; and

(C) in clause (iii), by striking 'this paragraph should not remain in effect, this paragraph ceases to be in effect' and inserting 'subparagraph (B)(iii) should be applied by limiting the total number of patients a practitioner may treat to 30, then the provisions in such subparagraph (B)(iii) permitting more than 30 patients shall not apply, effective'.

An excerpt from DATA-2000 that shows how public law 109-469 amends it.

(this bill's law's changes in red)

Section 303(g)(2)(B)(iii)

"(iii) In any case in which the practitioner is not in a group practice, the total number *The total* of such patients of the practitioner at any one time will not exceed the applicable number. For purposes of this clause, the applicable number is 30, except that the unless, not sooner than 1 year after the date on which the practitioner submitted the initial notification, the practitioner submits a second notification to the Secretary of the need and intent of the practitioner to treat up to 100 patients. A second notification under this clause shall contain the certifications required by clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph. The Secretary may by regulation change such total number."(iv) In any case in which the practitioner is in a group practice, the total number of such patients of the group practice at any one time will not exceed the applicable number. For purposes of this clause, the applicable number is 30, except that the Secretary may by regulation change such total number, and the Secretary for such purposes may by regulation establish different categories on the basis of the number of practitioners in a group practice and establish for the various categories different numerical limitations on the number of such patients that the group practice may have.*

[*Public law 109-56 made this change effective 8-2-2005]

Background

Background:

8/2/2005 President Bush signed Bill S.45 into law, an amendment to the DATA2000 law, and now allows every qualified doctor within a group medical practice to prescribe Suboxone up to his or her individual physician limit of 30 patients.

You will find the entire DATA-2000 lower on this page

DATA2000 allowed physicians to prescribe medicines for opioid addiction in their private practices. But it also restricted this health care to only 30 patients per practice. The problem was that the law make no distinction between single practices and group practices. The result was that large group practices – such as Yale University/Hospital with over 600 doctors – was limited to treating only 30 patients. Total. This law was changed 8/2/2005 so now every qualified doctor within a group medical practice to prescribe Suboxone up to his or her individual physician limit of 30 patients. The House reviewed a bill (H.R.3634 11/03) to change this oversight and found the following:

Actual findings from the Congress in November 2003:

  • Neither Congress nor the DATA law intended that the quality of care would be less for patients receiving care in group practices, which are a principal mode of health care delivery in the United States.
  • The DATA law's 30-patient limit on group practices is having the unintended consequence of denying addiction treatment to patients who seek and require it, in direct contrast to the overall purpose of such law.
  • For practitioners in a group practice, the DATA law established a single 30-patient limit for the entire group practice, rather than a 30-patient limit per practitioner. Qualified and trained practitioners practicing addiction treatment in group practice settings and academic health centers have realized an unexpected negative impact on their ability to serve their patients effectively and as anticipated by the DATA law, as a result of the law's patient limitation on group practices.

 

See past Bills to Repeal the 30-Patient Ration

Read about the history of Opioid laws

Summary of DATA-2000

Drug Addiction Treatment act of 2000(DATA 2000) summary

Title XXXV, Section 3502 of the Children's Health Act of 2000 - Waiver Authority for Physicians Who Dispense or Prescribe Certain Narcotic Drugs for Maintenance Treatment or Detoxification Treatment

DATA 2000 permits qualified physicians to obtain a waiver from the separate registration requirements of the Narcotic Addict Treatment Act to treat opioid addiction with Schedule III, IV, and V opioid medications or combinations of such medications that have been specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for that indication. Such medications may be prescribed and dispensed.

In order to qualify for a waiver under DATA 2000, physicians must hold a current State medical license, a valid DEA registration number, and must meet one or more of the following conditions:
  • The physician holds a subspecialty board certification in addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties.

  • The physician holds an addiction certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

  • The physician holds a subspecialty board certification in addiction medicine from the American Osteopathic Association.

  • The physician has completed not less than eight hours of training with respect to the treatment and management of opioid-addicted patients. This training can be provided through classroom situations, seminars at professional society meetings, electronic communications, or otherwise. The training must be sponsored by one of five organizations authorized in the DATA 2000 legislation to sponsor such training, or by any other organization that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) determines to be appropriate.

  • The physician has participated as an investigator in one or more clinical trials leading to the approval of a narcotic drug in Schedule III, IV, or V for maintenance or detoxification treatment, as demonstrated by a statement submitted to the Secretary by the sponsor of such approved drug.

  • The physician has other training or experience, considered by the State medical licensing board (of the State in which the physician will provide maintenance or detoxification treatment) to demonstrate the ability of the physician to treat and manage opioid-addicted patients.

  • The physician has other training or experience the Secretary considers demonstrates the ability of the physician to treat and manage opioid-addicted patients.

In addition, physicians must attest that they have the capacity to refer addiction treatment patients for appropriate counseling and other non-pharmacologic therapies, and that they will not have more than 30 patients on such addiction treatment at any one time. Unless they qualify to treat up to 100 patients. (Note: The patient limit applies to both physicians in solo practice and to entire group practices, and is not affected by the number of physician or group practice locations.) * amended

For the 3-year period after the passage of DATA 2000, States may not preclude practitioners from dispensing or prescribing eligible medications for opioid maintenance or detoxification treatment. The effect of the three-year provision in DATA 2000 is to put into abeyance current State law or regulations prohibiting physicians from prescribing Subutex® or Suboxone® for the treatment of opioid addiction, and to prevent State regulatory agencies from prohibiting prescribing by regulation. The FDA approved Subutex® and Suboxone® on October 8, 2002. A 2002 appropriations bill amended the DATA 2000 three-year State preemption provision to start on the date that the FDA approved Subutex® and Suboxone®. Thus, until October 8, 2005 States may not preclude practitioners from dispensing or prescribing eligible medications for opioid maintenance or detoxification treatment unless the State passes legislation to that effect.

The Secretary and the Attorney General are authorized to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the program and to discontinue it with 60 days notice.

Read results of three year evaluation (5-5-2006) PDF

Entire DATA-2000 Text (Updated 12-29-2006)

[[Page 114 STAT. 1101]]

Public Law 106-310
106th Congress

An Act

TITLE NOTE: Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000. XXXV--WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR PHYSICIANS WHO DISPENSE OR PRESCRIBE CERTAIN NARCOTIC DRUGS FOR MAINTENANCE TREATMENT OR DETOXIFICATION TREATMENT

SEC. 3501. NOTE: 21 USC 801 note. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the "Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000''.

SEC. 3502. AMENDMENT TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.

(a) In General.--Section 303(g) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)) is amended--

[[Page 114 STAT. 1223]]

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking "(A) security'' and inserting "(i) security'', and by striking "(B) the maintenance'' and inserting "(ii) the maintenance'';(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively;(3) by inserting "(1)'' after "(g)'';(4) by striking "Practitioners who dispense'' and inserting "Except as provided in paragraph (2), practitioners who dispense''; and (5) by adding at the end the following paragraph:

"(2)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (D) and (J), the requirements of paragraph (1) are waived in the case of the dispensing (including the prescribing), by a practitioner, of narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs if the practitioner meets the conditions specified in subparagraph (B) and the narcotic drugs or combinations of such drugs meet the conditions specified in subparagraph (C)."(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the conditions specified in this subparagraph with respect to a practitioner are that, before the initial dispensing of narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs to patients for maintenance or detoxification treatment, the practitioner submit to the Secretary a notification of the intent of the practitioner to begin dispensing the drugs or combinations for such purpose, and that the notification contain the following certifications by the practitioner:"(i) The practitioner is a qualifying physician (as defined in subparagraph (G)."(ii) With respect to patients to whom the practitioner will provide such drugs or combinations of drugs, the practitioner has the capacity to refer the patients for appropriate counseling and other appropriate ancillary services. "(iii) In any case in which the practitioner is not in a group practice, the total number* The total* of such patients of the practitioner at any one time will not exceed the applicable number. For purposes of this clause, the applicable number is 30, except that the unless, not sooner than 1 year after the date on which the practitioner submitted the initial notification, the practitioner submits a second notification to the Secretary of the need and intent of the practitioner to treat up to 100 patients. A second notification under this clause shall contain the certifications required by clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph. The** Secretary may by regulation change such total number."(iv) In any case in which the practitioner is in a group practice, the total number of such patients of the group practice at any one time will not exceed the applicable number. For purposes of this clause, the applicable number is 30, except that the Secretary may by regulation change such total number, and the Secretary for such purposes may by regulation establish different categories on the basis of the number of practitioners in a group practice and establish for the various categories different numerical limitations on the number of such patients that the group practice may have*

[ *Amended by public law 109-56 on 8/2/2005 ]
[**Amended by public law 109-469 on 12/29/2006]

"(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the conditions specified in this subparagraph with respect to narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs are as follows: "(i) The drugs or combinations of drugs have, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or section 351 of the Public Health Service Act, been approved for use in maintenance or detoxification treatment."(ii) The drugs or combinations of drugs have not been the subject of an adverse determination. NOTE: Federal Register, publication. For purposes of this clause, an adverse determination is a determination published

[[Page 114 STAT. 1224]]

in the Federal Register and made by the Secretary, after consultation with the Attorney General, that the use of the drugs or combinations of drugs for maintenance or detoxification treatment requires additional standards respecting the qualifications of practitioners to provide such treatment, or requires standards respecting the quantities of the drugs that may be provided for unsupervised use.

"(D)(i) A waiver under subparagraph (A) with respect to a practitioner is not in effect unless (in addition to conditions under subparagraphs (B) and (C) the following conditions are met: "(I) The notification under subparagraph (B) is in writing and states the name of the practitioner."(II) The notification identifies the registration issued for the practitioner pursuant to subsection (f )."(III) If the practitioner is a member of a group practice, the notification states the names of the other practitioners in the practice and identifies the registrations issued for the other practitioners pursuant to subsection (f ).

"(ii) Upon receiving a notification under subparagraph (B), the Attorney General shall assign the practitioner involved an identification number under this paragraph for inclusion with the registration issued for the practitioner pursuant to subsection (f ). The identification number so assigned shall be appropriate to preserve the confidentiality of patients for whom the practitioner has dispensed narcotic drugs under a waiver under subparagraph (A)."(iii) NOTE: Deadline. Not later than 45 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a notification under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall make a determination of whether the practitioner involved meets all requirements for a waiver under subparagraph (B). If the Secretary fails to make such determination by the end of the such 45-day period, the Attorney General shall assign the physician an identification number described in clause (ii) at the end of such period.

"(E)(i) If a practitioner is not registered under paragraph (1) and, in violation of the conditions specified in subparagraphs (B) through (D), dispenses narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs for maintenance treatment or detoxification treatment, the Attorney General may, for purposes of section 304(a)(4), consider the practitioner to have committed an act that renders the registration of the practitioner pursuant to subsection (f ) to be inconsistent with the public interest. "(ii)(I) NOTE: Expiration date. Upon the expiration of 45 days from the date on which the Secretary receives a notification under subparagraph (B), a practitioner who in good faith submits a notification under subparagraph (B) and reasonably believes that the conditions specified in subparagraphs (B) through (D) have been met shall, in dispensing narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs for maintenance treatment or detoxification treatment, be considered to have a waiver under subparagraph (A) until notified otherwise by the Secretary, except that such a practitioner may commence to prescribe or dispense such narcotic drugs for such purposes prior to the expiration of such 45-day period if it facilitates the treatment of an individual patient and both the Secretary and the Attorney General are notified by the practitioner of the intent to commence prescribing or dispensing such narcotic drugs.

"(II) NOTE: Federal Register, publication. For purposes of subclause (I), the publication in the Federal Register of an adverse determination by the Secretary pursuant

[[Page 114 STAT. 1225]]

to subparagraph (C)(ii) shall (with respect to the narcotic drug or combination involved) be considered to be a notification provided by the Secretary to practitioners, effective upon the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the adverse determination is so published.

"(F)(i) With respect to the dispensing of narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs to patients for maintenance or detoxification treatment, a practitioner may, in his or her discretion, dispense such drugs or combinations for such treatment under a registration under paragraph (1) or a waiver under subparagraph (A) (subject to meeting the applicable conditions)."(ii) This paragraph may not be construed as having any legal effect on the conditions for obtaining a registration under paragraph (1), including with respect to the number of patients who may be served under such a registration."(G) For purposes of this paragraph:"(i) The term 'group practice' has the meaning given such term in section 1877(h)(4) of the Social Security Act. "(ii) The term 'qualifying physician' means a physician who is licensed under State law and who meets one or more of the following conditions:"(I) The physician holds a subspecialty board certification in addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties."(II) The physician holds an addiction certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine."(III) The physician holds a subspecialty board certification in addiction medicine from the American Osteopathic Association."(IV) The physician has, with respect to the treatment and management of opiate-dependent patients, completed not less than eight hours of training (through classroom situations, seminars at professional society meetings, electronic communications, or otherwise) that is provided by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Psychiatric Association, or any other organization that the Secretary determines is appropriate for purposes of this subclause."(V) The physician has participated as an investigator in one or more clinical trials leading to the approval of a narcotic drug in schedule III, IV, or V for maintenance or detoxification treatment, as demonstrated by a statement submitted to the Secretary by the sponsor of such approved drug."(VI) The physician has such other training or experience as the State medical licensing board (of the State in which the physician will provide maintenance or detoxification treatment) considers to demonstrate the ability of the physician to treat and manage opiate-dependent patients."(VII) The physician has such other training or experience as the Secretary considers to demonstrate the ability of the physician to treat and manage opiate-dependent patients. Any criteria of the Secretary under this subclause

[[Page 114 STAT. 1226]]

shall be established by regulation. Any such criteria are effective only for 3 years after the date on which the criteria are promulgated, but may be extended for such additional discrete 3-year periods as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of this subclause. NOTE: Federal Register, publication. Such an extension of criteria may only be effectuated through a statement published in the Federal Register by the Secretary during the 30-day period preceding the end of the 3-year period involved.

"(H)(i) In consultation with the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Secretary shall issue regulations (through notice and comment rulemaking) or issue practice guidelines to address the following:"(I) Approval of additional credentialing bodies and the responsibilities of additional credentialing bodies. "(II) Additional exemptions from the requirements of this paragraph and any regulations under this paragraph.

Nothing in such regulations or practice guidelines may authorize any Federal official or employee to exercise supervision or control over the practice of medicine or the manner in which medical services are provided."(ii) NOTE: Deadline. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000, the Secretary shall issue a treatment improvement protocol containing best practice guidelines for the treatment and maintenance of opiate-dependent patients. The Secretary shall develop the protocol in consultation with the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and other substance abuse disorder professionals. The protocol shall be guided by science.

"(I) During the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000, a State may not preclude a practitioner from dispensing or prescribing drugs in schedule III, IV, or V, or combinations of such drugs, to patients for maintenance or detoxification treatment in accordance with this paragraph unless, before the expiration of that 3-year period, the State enacts a law prohibiting a practitioner from dispensing such drugs or combinations of drug."(J)(i) NOTE: Effective date. This paragraph takes effect on the date of the enactment of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000, and remains in effect thereafter. except as provided in clause (iii) (relating to a decision by the Secretary or the Attorney General that this paragraph should not remain in effect).**

"(ii) For purposes relating to clause (iii), the Secretary and the Attorney General may, during the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006'**, make determinations in accordance with the following: "(I) The Secretary may make a determination of whether treatments provided under waivers under subparagraph (A)

[[Page 114 STAT. 1227]]

have been effective forms of maintenance treatment and detoxification treatment in clinical settings; may make a determination of whether such waivers have significantly increased (relative to the beginning of such period) the availability of maintenance treatment and detoxification treatment; and may make a determination of whether such waivers have adverse consequences for the public health."(II) The Attorney General may make a determination of the extent to which there have been violations of the numerical limitations established under subparagraph (B) for the number of individuals to whom a practitioner may provide treatment; may make a determination of whether waivers under subparagraph (A) have increased (relative to the beginning of such period) the extent to which narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V or combinations of such drugs are being dispensed or possessed in violation of this Act; and may make a determination of whether such waivers have adverse consequences for the public health.

"(iii) NOTE: Federal Register, publication. Effective date. If, before the expiration of the period specified in clause (ii), the Secretary or the Attorney General publishes in the Federal Register a decision, made on the basis of determinations under such clause, that this paragraph should not remain in effect, this paragraph ceases to be in effect subparagraph (B)(iii) should be applied by limiting the total number of patients a practitioner may treat to 30, then the provisions in such subparagraph (B)(iii) permitting more than 30 patients shall not apply, effective.**60 days after the date on which the decision is so published. The Secretary shall in making any such decision consult with the Attorney General, and shall in publishing the decision in the Federal Register include any comments received from the Attorney General for inclusion in the publication. The Attorney General shall in making any such decision consult with the Secretary, and shall in publishing the decision in the Federal Register include any comments received from the Secretary for inclusion in the publication.''.

(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 304 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 824) is amended--(1) in subsection (a), in the matter after and below paragraph (5), by striking "section 303(g)'' each place such term appears and inserting "section 303(g)(1)''; and(2) in subsection (d), by striking "section 303(g)'' and inserting "section 303(g)(1)''.

(c) Additional Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of assisting the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the additional duties established for the Secretary pursuant to the amendments made by this section, there are authorized to be appropriated, in addition to other authorizations of appropriations that are available for such purpose, such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2003.

[**Amended by public law 109-469 on 12/29/2006]

END-DATA-2000

Amendment that allows physicians in group practices to prescribe to 30 patients individually regardless of whether they are in a group or sole practice. It went into effect 8/2/2005.

Amendment:

One Hundred Ninth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the fourth day of January, two thousand and five

An Act

To amend the Controlled Substances Act to lift the patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical practitioners in group practices, and for other purposes.

 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

 

SECTION 1. MAINTENANCE OR DETOXIFICATION TREATMENT WITH CERTAIN NARCOTIC DRUGS; ELIMINATION OF 30-PATIENT LIMIT FOR GROUP PRACTICES.

 

    (a) IN GENERAL- Section 303(g)(2)(B) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)(2)(B)) is amended by striking clause (iv).

 

    (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 303(g)(2)(B) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)(2)(B)) is amended in clause (iii) by striking 'In any case' and all that follows through 'the total' and inserting 'The total'.

 

    (c) EFFECTIVE DATE- This section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.

END

Read the entire Amendment with all recorded discussion, co-sponsors and supporters-PDF


This rule amends the Federal opioid treatment program regulations by adding buprenorphine to the list of approved opioid treatment medications that may be used in federally certified opioid treatment programs. -PDF


US Senator Orrin Hatch

August 3rd, 2006 Contact: Peter Carr (202) 224-9854,
Jared Whitley (202) 224-0134

HATCH, LEVIN TOUT SUCCESS OF DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT ACT

Washington - Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) joined Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) today at a symposium discussing the success of their Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000, which among other things expanded the ability of doctors to prescribe buprenorphine to recovering heroin addicts.

Hatch's prepared remarks follow:

The topic of drug abuse is so important to me that I will always make time to talk to on the subject.

First off, let me commend my colleague, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan for his leadership. Carl is one of the real experts in the Senate on drug abuse, and I appreciate all he’s done for our country on this issue. In helping bring about new methods and medications to treat heroin addiction, Carl and I have worked side by side for many years. We’ve worked together on a bipartisan basis on drug issues with Senator Joe Biden and our great former colleague Senator Pat Moynihan and many others, including many of you here today.

I want to recognize Director Nora Volkow of the National Institute of Drug Abuse and Director Westley Clark of the Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment. These two have some of the most challenging jobs in the government, and we thank them for their good work.

Dr. Charles Schuster and I are long time friends. We worked with Nancy Reagan many years ago on the “Just Say No” campaign. Dr. Herbert Kleber was drug czar under first President Bush. Let me also recognize doctors David Feillin and Jim Finch, who are leaders in their fields.

All of you have joined Carl and me today because we know that this country can develop better treatments for drug abuse. Nobody in this audience needs to be reminded of what is at stake, but it is worth emphasizing again. We need to break the pernicious cycle between heroin addiction and crime. If we can encourage thousands of addicts into rehabilitation today, they and their families will be able to live more productive lives tomorrow. We can make major gains in our nation’s crime problem and improve the social structure and stability of many families who today live under the scourge of drug abuse.

I am proud of the legislation we passed in 2000. The Drug Addiction Treatment Act was a groundbreaking law that allows certified physicians to prescribe appropriate medications in their offices, like the drug buprenorphine, to help people trying to break the shackles of heroin addiction.

Prior to passage of this law, medical treatment for that kind of addiction and dependence was restricted to designated drug abuse treatment centers. This kind of movement is like building a wall brick by brick. It takes a lot of time and work and a solid foundation – and that’s what we’re constructing today.

We must allow qualified doctors to treat more addicts than can be treated under current law. Currently, doctors are allowed only 30 such patients at a time. But why should we bind a healer’s hands from helping as many as he or she could?

Let me share with you a letter from Dr. Glen Hanson, former director of NIDA and a professor of toxicology and pharmacology at the University of Utah. Dr. Hanson told me that “In Utah the use of buprenorphine to manage opiate dependency is enthusiastically recommended by clinicians who are certified and actively working with opiate-dependent patients.”

Dr. Hanson shared some success stories with me. One is Dr. Michael Measom, a physician at Utah Valley Mental Health, who says, “I love to prescribe buprenorphine because it has been such a useful and successful drug for so many patients. It has increased my ability to serve patients, especially in an ambulatory detoxification setting.”

Dr. Measom says that many of his patients were able to “turn their lives around” by using buprenorphine and participating in treatment. He shared with me examples of how buprenorphine treatment helped: (1) a mother reconnect with her son; (2) save several marriages; and (3) several patients return to the workforce and become productive citizens.

Dr. Measom pointed out that one of the many benefits of buprenorphine is that patients are able to fully benefit from individual and group therapy sessions because they are able to concentrate better and be more active in their treatment.

Senators Biden, Levin, and I are hoping to expand the number of patients qualified doctors are allowed to treat and we need all of you to let your senators know that you support this effort.

And although I hate to leave you with a threat, in this case, I will do so. If you do not work our proposed change in the law, Sen. Levin and I are going to sic Jackie Parker on you. And I’ve always found it is easier to do just what Jackie wants than to argue with her.

###

The Purpose of Buprenorphine Treatment:

To suppress the debilitating symptoms of cravings and withdrawal, enabling the patient to engage in therapy, counseling and support, so they can implement positive long-term changes in their lives which develops into the new healthy patterns of behavior necessary to achieve sustained addiction remission. - explain -

The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment is a non-profit organization charged with the mission to:

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Talk Paper, T0238, October 8, 2002, Subutex and Suboxone approved to treat opiate dependence.
  2. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 40. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 04-3939. Rockville, Md: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004.
  3. Subutex Discontinued in the US market in late 2011.
  4. Zubsolv (bup/nx sublingual tablet) FDA approved 7/3/2013 see buprenorphine pipeline graphic -in pharmacies now.
  5. Bunavail (bup/nx bucal film) FDA approved 6/6/2014 see buprenorphine pipeline graphic -in pharmacies now.
  6. Probuphine FDA approved 5/26/2016 - FDA Probuphine press release