I’m not sure about the make-up of readers of this blog. I know that there are about 20,000 page views each month, but I don’t know how many are by people addicted to opioids, people taking buprenorphine, family members of addicts, or physicians who prescribe buprenorphine. If you fall into that latter category– i.e. if you prescribe buprenorphine, or if you prescribe other medications to treat opioid dependence such as Vivitrol or methadone– consider joining the group at linkedin.com called ‘Buprenorphine and other medication-assisted treatment of opiate dependence.’ If you already belong to LinkedIn, you can simply follow this link to join: http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2710529
I have always resisted separating those who prescribe buprenorphine from those who are prescribed the medication. I have avoided, for example, placing a ‘doctors’ section’ at SuboxForum, as I don’t want there to be two separate discussions. Clearly, each group would benefit from the wisdom of the other. But there are some physicians who want to discuss prescribing habits, techniques, and science with other docs, who are not comfortable discussing some topics in the ‘presence’ of their patients.
Non-docs, please don’t flame me for this decision; I’ve wrestled with it, and have made this decision, at least for now. Frankly, the discussions at SuboxForum are far more interesting than anything that has come up so far at the linked in site! But some docs who prescribe buprenorphine are isolated out there, perhaps even looked down on by their peers for working with addiction– and that is a crying shame. I want to get those docs some support. My goal ultimately is to bring the two sides together, so that docs can talk to addicts and realize that they are the same species as the rest of their patients!
Thanks all,
JJ
Acute Pain
VA Gets it Right and Wrong on Buprenorphine
The Veterans Administration recently released guidelines for chronic pain that recommend using buprenorphine if opioids are indicated. That idea has some validity, but the VA, and commenters, get much of the issue wrong. Buprenorphine is Read more…
6 Comments
moman · January 11, 2011 at 7:39 am
I follow the NAABT forum and there are a few docs who post. A few have been bupe docs, but there is also an ER doc trying to increase his understanding.
Great idea!
thankfulmom · January 11, 2011 at 8:40 am
I am in favor of anything that will help doctors understand Suboxone and especially its long term use. Treating addiction like any other disease and the patients like patients with any other disease would be a step in the right direction. And kudos for the ER dr trying to increase his understanding.
Brian · January 11, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Excellent idea, it seems to me that not only doctors but a lot of medical personnel in general are not familiar with bupenorphine ( Suboxone ). As an opiate addict in recovery I encounter so many people in the medical proffesion that have either never heard of it or think it is the same thing as Methadone and dont care to learn about it. This is not only ignorant but dangerous because accident and emergency room victims will suffer.
moman · January 12, 2011 at 8:50 am
Yes….and how much of that is due to our wonderful government???
tic · January 15, 2011 at 7:45 am
I am a doctor who perscribes suboxone. I enjoy this blog quite a bit, have learned a lot from it, feel it supports my practice, and refer patients to it.
patoh8 · January 23, 2011 at 5:11 am
Hi,
My name patrick, i used to live in Florida where I was being treated with suboxone for my opiates addiction. I had to move to lebanon in 2007 and i was unable to continue my treatment here because subuxone is not available here. I’ve been using heroin ever since and i’ve had no luck in getting subutex or suboxone. Since you’re a doctor i was wondering if it’s possible to do anything about that, i do still have family in the states who can send me the medicine here but they just don’t know how to get it. Please advise.
Thanks in advance,
Patrick.
patoh8@hotmail.com