Early-Career and Graduating Physicians More Likely to Prescribe Buprenorphine

RUHRC Authors: Peterson, LE
Publication Date: 01/01/2020
Full Publication: Early-Career and Graduating Physicians More Likely to Prescribe Buprenorphine

Objective

Deaths attributed to drug overdoses have increased in the United States from 16,651 in 2010 to 70,237 in 2017, with two thirds of these being from opioids. Despite increasing need, only 35% of those needing treatment for a opioid-use disorder (OUD) received treatment in 2015 to 2017. In late 2015, only 31% of family medicine (FM) residencies reported having a recent graduate obtain a
buprenorphine waiver in the prior year and only 7% of 2013 FM residency graduates were prescribing buprenorphine. Given the increased need for treatment of OUD, our objective was to determine the proportion of family physicians (FPs) who prescribe, or intend to prescribe buprenorphine, at various stages in their careers.

Suggested Citation

Peterson LE, Morgan ZJ, Eden AR. Early-Career and Graduating Physicians More Likely to Prescribe Buprenorphine. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2020;33(1):7-8; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2020.01.190230