Low-Dose Initiations of Buprenorphine in the Fentanyl Era—A Search for Evidence-Based Approaches to an Evolving Crisis

Commentary

Berk, J., Rose, M., & Thakar, A. P.

Release Date

2025

Geography

USA

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

This commentary is concerned with buprenorphine treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder in the fentanyl era. Despite changes in policy USA-wide that has increased the accessibility of buprenorphine, mitigating precipitated withdrawal during initiation is more of a challenge. There is a lack of clinical guidelines and best practises in area.

Findings/Key points

In order to address the needs of this population, the authors highlight next research steps that need to be undertaken to advance in this field. Namely: prioritizing clinical trials, new approaches to research design, the need to categorize risk factors and exploring cotreatment of stimulant use disorder alongside opioid use treatment.

doi.org

Keywords

Barriers and enablers

Illegal drugs

Overdose

Policy/Regulatory

Stimulants

Substitution/OAT

Withdrawal

Treatment/recovery