Support Offered for Buprenorphine Use

Psychiatrists and other physicians faced with the challenge of treating opiate-dependent patients can take advantage of a new resource introduced in late July by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

SAMHSA noted in a press advisory that it developed the Physician Clinical Support System (PCSS) in collaboration with the American Society of Addiction Medicine and with assistance from other medical organizations.

The focus of the PCSS is on helping physicians use buprenorphine in treating opiate addiction and on promoting education, research, and enhanced patient care involving this treatment.

The agency estimates that several million opiate abusers are not receiving any treatment for their disorder.

With the goal of making buprenorphine treatment more accessible, the PCSS“ supports primary care physicians, pain specialists, psychiatrists, and other nonaddiction medical practitioners,” said SAMHSA.

Services in the PCSS will be provided via phone, e-mail, or in person by a network of 45 mentors—all of them physicians—who are experts in addiction treatment and experienced educators in this area. They will receive support from five physicians who are recognized authorities in the use of buprenorphine to treat opiate dependence.

There is no charge for using the PCSS.

Information about locating a local PCSS physician or becoming one of the mentors is posted at<www.PCSSmentor.org> or by phone at (877) 630-8812. ▪