Buprenorphine Implementation Toolkit

Leadership support for buprenorphine

A successful buprenorphine treatment program needs the full support from top leadership. By clearly stating their commitment to medication-assisted treatment and stressing its importance as a clinical tool that improves treatment outcomes, top management can begin to change negative attitudes about buprenorphine within and outside their organizations.

NIATx Principle: Fix Key Problems and help the CEO sleep at night

A medication-assisted treatment program is more likely to be successful when top management is involved and committed to the project. Is top management prepared to provide the support and resources needed for it to succeed?

Integrating buprenorphine in formerly drug-free programs

Offering medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine represents a radical change for organizations that have maintained an abstinence-only philosophy of treatment.

A strong institutional commitment to buprenorphine at all levels of the organization will be essential to the success of any buprenorphine program.

Top leadership will need to be prepared to address resistance to buprenorphine from within and outside the organization.

The organization will also need to have plans in place to:

  • Secure buy-in from staff, administrators, clients, and the community
  • Educate clinical and administrative staff, patients and their families about buprenorphine, including dosing and duration of treatment.
  • Ensure smooth communication between medical and counseling staff
  • Establish or link patients to buprenorphine-friendly support groups
  • Find physicians, nurse practitioners, or physicians assistants to prescribe buprenorphine
  • Provide patients with appropriate counseling in combination with buprenorphine
  • Respond to community concerns about potential diversion

Read more about leadership support for buprenorphine

From the ATTC/NIATx Service Improvement blog:

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