Background and Objectives Concern about diversion of buprenorphine/naloxone (B/N) in the U.S. may affect prescribing patterns and policy decisions. This study examines addiction treatment clinician beliefs and attitudes regarding B/N diversion. Methods Participants (n=369) completed a 34-item survey in 2010 during two national symposia on opioid dependence. We conducted multivariable regression, examining the relationship of perceived danger from B/N diversion with clinician characteristics and their beliefs about B/N treatment and diversion. We compared causal beliefs about diversion among clinicians with and without B/N treatment experience. Results Forty percent of clinicians believed that B/N diversion is a dangerous problem. The belief that B/N diversion increases accidental overdoses in the community was strongly associated with perceived danger from B/N diversion. Conclusions and Scientific Significance Attitudes and beliefs, not education level, were associated with clinician’s perceived danger from B/N diversion. Clinicians with greater B/N patient experience were more likely to believe treatment access barriers are the major cause of B/N diversion.

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This study evaluated a staff training program on alcohol detoxification. Training consisted of didactic presentations on the pathophysiology of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and information on use of the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-A). Treatment course was assessed on 100 patients admitted before or after the training. Whereas 73% of patients were given drug therapy before, only 13% of patients received drug therapy after. Significantly more benzodiazepine was administered before training (M = 108.48 mg) than after training (M = 42.97 mg). After excluding those who received no drug therapy, patients who received benzodiazepine after the training received significantly higher amounts of benzodiazepine (M = 252.50 mg) than those who received drug before (M = 144.64 mg). The average number of hours from the first benzodiazepine dose to the last was reduced from 13 to 5 hr. Clinical implications of matching patient symptomatology with appropriate drug therapy, thus preventing both over- and under-treatment for alcohol withdrawal symptoms, are discussed.