Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
December 11, 2023
OVERVIEW
On December 11, 2023, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), hosted a listening session to discuss the medical need, emerging data, and barriers to accessing higher doses of buprenorphine in the context of high potency synthetic opioid (HPSO) exposure. The meeting focused on gathering quantitative and qualitative data on the need for, effectiveness of, and safety of “high dose” buprenorphine (defined as > 24 mg of buprenorphine per day) in the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD), to inform federal guidelines and policies. This document summarizes the recommendations and opinions of the participants and does not reflect an official position, policy, or set of recommendations from any federal or state agency.
More than 300 individuals registered for the virtual listening session, with over 200 attending the Zoom meeting. Participants represented a wide range of disciplines related to OUD services, including providers, academics, researchers, and those with lived experience. The meeting was structured around four panels:
- Setting the Context: The Current Landscape, Guidance, and Use of High Dose Buprenorphine
- New and Original Data on the Use of High Dose Buprenorphine
- Qualitative Data and Implementation Insights
- Identifying Barriers to Accessing High Dose Buprenorphine and Potential Solutions
Read the report.
