Keywords

buprenorphine, nurse practitioners, opiate addiction, opioid abuse, opioid dependence, opioid treatment, primary care providers

Abstract

There are inadequate numbers of care providers or treatment programs to treat opioid abuse. Although many primary care nurse practitioners care for patients who are dependent on or abuse opioids, they are not allowed to prescribe the schedule 3 medications to treat them. This option is available to primary care physicians with additional training. This article discusses the effectiveness of opioid substitution therapy in a primary care setting, the patient populations, patient satisfaction, and barriers preventing primary care providers from providing treatment to opioid patients. Nurse practitioners can help overcome some of these barriers and improve access to this underserved population.

Original Publication Citation

Jenkinson, J. & Ravert, P. (2013). Underutilization of primary care providers in treating opiate addiction. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 9(8), 516-522.