Easing prescription rules for opioid treatment meds did not increase overdose deaths, study finds

A new study shows that reducing restrictions on buprenorphine, a medication that can treat opioid use disorder, did not lead to an increase in overdose deaths involving the treatment. The findings may help allay concerns that making buprenorphine more widely available could lead to more overdose deaths. 

Buprenorphine and similar medications, like methadone and Suboxone, are opioid agonists that reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Compared to methadone, buprenorphine has a lower potential for misuse and overdose, making it the most accessible of all the options, but it remains "substantially underused," the study says. 

There are restrictions on who can prescribe buprenorphine and where it can be obtained. It remains classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, meaning one with a moderate to low risk of dependence. Previously, buprenorphine had to be prescribed in a clinical setting by a prescriber registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Recent policy changes have removed the requirement commonly known as the "X waiver," which had limited how many patients a provider could prescribe buprenorphine for.