%0 Journal Article
%T Entry into primary care-based buprenorphine treatment is associated with identification and treatment of other chronic medical problems
%A Theresa A Rowe
%A Janet S Jacapraro
%A Darius A Rastegar
%J Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1940-0640-7-22
%X We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 168 patients who presented to a primary care clinic for treatment of opioid dependence and who received a prescription for sublingual buprenorphine within a month of their initial visit.Of the 168 new patients, 122 (73%) did not report having an established primary care provider at the time of the initial visit. One hundred and twenty-five patients (74%) reported at least one established chronic condition at the initial visit. Of the 215 established diagnoses documented on the initial visit, 146 (68%) were not being actively treated; treatment was initiated for 70 (48%) of these within one year. At least one new chronic medical condition was identified in 47 patients (28%) during the first four months of their care. Treatment was initiated for 39 of the 54 new diagnoses (72%) within the first year.Offering treatment for opioid dependence with buprenorphine in a primary care practice is associated with the identification and treatment of other chronic medical conditions.Opioid and other drug dependence are chronic medical conditions, which can be treated in an outpatient primary care setting as other illnesses are [1]. A number of studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of office-based treatment of opioid dependence with sublingual formulations of buprenorphine [2-6]. Potential advantages of office-based treatment over traditional methadone programs include feasibility of implementation in outpatient practices [7]; recruitment of patients who have been reticent to join methadone programs due to expense, need for more frequent attendance, and associated stigma [8]; improved patient retention in treatment [9-11]; and increased patient satisfaction [12].Individuals with drug dependence have a high burden of medical and psychiatric illness [13-15]. Integration of drug treatment and primary care services may also facilitate the identification and treatment of other chronic medical conditions. Previous studies ha
%U http://www.ascpjournal.org/content/7/1/22