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According to a recent report the number of buprenorphine prescriptions written in California emergency departments rose from only 2% in 2017 to 16% in 2022. At least one out of every three patients filled two buprenorphine prescriptions within 40 days of the first ER visit.
Most of us know that the ongoing opioid crisis has ravaged families and communities in recent years. The number of emergency room visits related to opioid misuse increased steadily since 1999.
There are various FDA approved medications to treat opioid withdrawal. Buprenorphine has proven to be particularly safe and effective. It binds opioid receptors in the brain to reduce drug cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. However this medicine doesn’t produce a euphoric feeling and people using buprenorphine won’t feel high. That means there’s very little risk of misuse or addiction if any at all.
The increase in buprenorphine prescriptions in the ER is no coincidence. It’s a part of a concerted effort to get patients into recovery as quickly as possible.
For instance, an organization called BRIDGE started an initiative in California that allows emergency departments to prescribe this medication for opioid use disorder. The program is designed to increase treatment access for people with substance use disorder.
The emergency room is often the first point of contact people using opioids have with any kind of healthcare system. This could make it the perfect place to make a difference in their lives.
The increasing number of buprenorphine prescriptions written by clinicians is a hopeful sign but there is more work to be done. The percentage of patients in continuous treatment is declining. This trend may indicate a need to continue investing in emergency department resources and programs like BRIDGE to help with ongoing treatment.
Hopefully patients will take advantage of the help made increasingly accessible in ER departments nationwide. This may indeed be a pivotal moment in stemming the tide of opioid addiction.
