Commentary on “The more things change: Buprenorphine/naloxone diversion continues while treatment is inaccessible”

Abstract

This commentary puts the recent findings by Carroll et al. into historical perspective, noting both the long-held problem of medication diversion when pharmacotherapy access is limited, and the ways in which medication diversion concerns and regulations help create those treatment access barriers. Recent efforts to bridge the treatment gap, including increases in Federal funding through the 21 ^st Century Cures Act and expanding the buprenorphine patient cap and scope of eligible providers under the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act (CARA) will likely help, however important structural barriers remain. Health insurance barriers, including limited Medicaid coverage, combined with stigma against pharmacotherapy persist, which likely means that people in need of treatment will continue to self-treat their symptoms with diverted medications, such as the buprenorphine/naloxone use noted by Carroll and colleagues.