Can methadone and buprenorphine be abused?
Both methadone and buprenorphine can be diverted from their intended recipients. This diversion occurs in countries that provide these medications via supervised dispensing (e.g., pharmacies) and by prescription. Oftentimes, this diversion is by individuals who are seeking a therapeutic benefit (e.g., unobserved treatment). Other times, this diversion results in abuse. The extent of these two types of diversion varies, although most studies note that the benefits of providing the treatment outweigh the risks associated with diversion. For instance, the efficacy of methadone has been demonstrated over the past 40 years (O’Connor and Fiellin, 2000). The provision of methadone and buprenorphine treatment was associated with a 75-percent decrease in fatal heroin overdoses in France (Lepere, Gourarier, Sanchez, et al., 2001; Auriacombe, Fatseas, Dubernet, et al., 2004). In studies that have compared death rates from heroin overdose among those who are untreated and those who receive methado
