Pubdate: Sat, 22 Dec 2007
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2007 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Note: Titled by Newshawk
Author: Dr. Christopher Welsh

THE SUN LOST FOCUS OF BUPRENORPHINE POSITIVE ASPECTS

In The Sun's recent series of articles on buprenorphine, the many 
positive aspects of buprenorphine seem to have been lost in the 
overwhelming focus on its negatives. The first and most important of 
these positive aspects is the number of studies that have shown how 
effective the medication is at helping people stop using heroin and 
prescription pain killers.

The diversion of buprenorphine, although an issue, must be put in the 
context of the illicit sale of other medications - for instance, 
there is even a black market for antibiotics and asthma inhalers.

As for safety issues, in the United States, there is little evidence 
that buprenorphine causes or even has a substantial contribution to 
the reported "buprenorphine-related deaths," and there are no cases 
of deaths related solely to buprenorphine - unlike the more than 
1,000 deaths per year as a result of heroin and other prescription painkillers.

Dr. Christopher Welsh

Baltimore

The writer is a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
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