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Against Our Instincts: Decriminalization of Buprenorphine
John C Messinger1, Anand Chukka1, J Wesley Boyd2
1From the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (JCM, AC, WB); Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (WB).
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM
|April 5, 2022
Summary
Criminalizing diverted buprenorphine, a medication for opioid use disorder, is harmful. Expanded access to buprenorphine saves lives, and its diversion benefits outweigh the harms, making criminalization a dangerous response.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Overdose deaths have surged in the last 20 years.
- Access to opioid use disorder medications like buprenorphine is expanding.
- Removing training requirements for buprenorphine has raised concerns about diversion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of buprenorphine diversion.
- To argue against the criminalization of diverted buprenorphine.
- To highlight the benefits of expanded buprenorphine access.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on buprenorphine diversion and its historical criminalization.
- Analysis of the benefits versus harms of buprenorphine diversion.
- Argumentative approach based on public health principles.
Main Results:
- Buprenorphine diversion, while not ideal, has benefits that exceed its harms.
- Criminalization of diverted buprenorphine poses a significant threat to public health.
- Expanded access to buprenorphine is crucial for saving lives.
Conclusions:
- The criminalization of diverted buprenorphine is an ineffective and detrimental policy.
- Public health strategies should prioritize access to buprenorphine over punitive measures.
- Harm reduction approaches are essential in managing opioid use disorder.
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