Buprenorphine Via Telemedicine

Effective February 18, 2025, providers can legally provide patients with prescriptions for buprenorphine for six months via telemedicine (with or without video). Continuation after the first six months requires an in-person encounter. 

In my opinion, anything that makes buprenorphine more readily available for maintenance treatment of opioid dependence constitutes a step in the right direction, that direction meaning availability of the drug, arguably the safest (by a wide margin) opioid agonist, over-the-counter to competent adults without a prescription. It means that distance from the provider's office will not delay use of the drug. It reduces the cost, both for the patient and the provider.

The notion that in-person encounters can somehow prevent diversion of the drug is false. Furthermore, diversion of the drug to others will likely do more good than harm. In-person encounters do allow for drug-testing and physical examination, but neither can reliably verify the patient's addiction to opioids or prevent precipitation of withdrawal.

The real damage done by this new policy? The availability of a safe drug through legal channels will hurt the black market and the cartels. It will also make the Drug Enforcement Administration less relevant.

Another step toward decriminalization.

Read more at SAHMSA and the Federal Register.

Berry Edwards, MD