Efficacy of continuing medical education to reduce the risk of buprenorphine diversion

As office-based opioid dependence treatment (OBOT) has grown in the United States, postmarketing surveillance data reveal increased reports of buprenorphine misuse and diversion. It is important that doctors understand buprenorphine clinical pharmacology and engage in practices to decrease risk of misuse, diversion, and other adverse events. This study evaluated the efficacy of continuing medical education (CME) in two U.S. regions with surveillance signals of buprenorphine misuse/diversion. Four surveys (before, on-site, and 1 and 3 months post CME) evaluated physician characteristics, practice behaviors, and buprenorphine pharmacology and legislative knowledge. The results show that physicians had limited addictions training. Knowledge and practice behaviors significantly improved after the CME, which should enhance the quality of OBOT and may decrease risk of buprenorphine misuse and diversion from their practices. Mandatory CME targeting OBOT-certified physicians could have a positive impact on patient and public health outcomes.