By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Addressing Addiction In Primary Care
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Addressing Addiction In Primary Care
eHealthHealth carePublic Health

Addressing Addiction In Primary Care

Larry Alton
Last updated: April 14, 2019 11:14 am
Larry Alton
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Addiction medicine is often considered a specialist concerned, relegated to therapists and psychiatrists, addiction medicine specialists, and rehabilitation centers, but as the opioid epidemic grows, we need to consider how addiction is addressed in primary care settings. With the right training and support, PCPs are capable of helping patients navigate addiction and recovery, and the support of a familiar provider can be a powerful motivator for struggling individuals.

Contents
Get Buprenorphine TrainingCreate Aftercare ConnectionsAssociated Condition AwarenessSupport Local Services

Get Buprenorphine Training

The most powerful thing that any PCP can do to bridge the gap in addiction care is to become certified to prescribe buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a next-generation opioid-replacement medication, a step-up from traditional methadone treatment. Unlike methadone, which typically requires patients to travel to a clinic within a strict time frame every day for administration, buprenorphine can be prescribed for at-home use.

Opioid substitution drugs are the most effective way to reduce user mortality, but because only a small minority of drug users have access to any form of treatment, most don’t have the opportunity to make any meaningful choice about their care. And since only 5% of America’s doctors are licensed to prescribe buprenorphine, very few patients have the option to pursue this mode of treatment. Among rural counties, 72% have no buprenorphine licensed physicians, though these areas suffer disproportionately from opioid abuse deaths.

In order to prescribe buprenorphine, doctors must undergo 8 hours of training and PAs and NPs must do 24 hours of training. Additionally, in the first year, doctors may only treat 30 patients under their buprenorphine training. After a year, this number can be increased to 100 with an appropriate waiver, and ultimately the FDA allows doctors to treat doctors who meet specific criteria to treat as many as 275 patients. Many have been unwilling to take on this extra work, but increasing the number of buprenorphine licensed providers could dramatically decrease patient mortality and minimize the likelihood of relapse.

More Read

Image
HealthCare Pricing Visibility Through Social Media
How Healthcare Practices Can Use Digital Marketing to Retain Patients
Infographic:Social Media in Healthcare
How SlideShare Can Increase Your Hospital’s Credibility
Long Term Care Commission Report Falls Short

Create Aftercare Connections

PCPs don’t have the resources to provide around-the-clock recovery services in the manner of a rehab facility, but that shouldn’t stop them from building connections with such facilities – both so that they can refer patients to trusted rehabilitation services and so that they can maintain a relationship with patients during the aftercare process.

Because addiction can be a lifelong battle, many former drug users move on to sober living facilities after undergoing rehab as a way of supporting their recovery. These patients should have the ability to continue their relationship with their original PCP or have the option of starting a relationship with a new addiction-competent PCP in the community.

Associated Condition Awareness

Since many former addicts have significant health problems resulting from substance abuse, PCPs working with sober living facilities should be well-trained in the newest protocols for treating addiction-associated conditions like hepatitis and HIV caused by sharing needles, heart and lung diseases, and organ damage. Similarly, doctors who already specialize in these conditions should increase their knowledge of addiction issues, as their knowledge is sorely needed to care for patients in recovery.

One way PCPs can increase their knowledge of both opioid addiction treatment and addiction-related conditions is by participating in web-based virtual education networks. These programs can help bridge a major professional knowledge gap; as with nutrition, most PCPs actually learn very little about addiction during their medical education unless they pursue specialized training. Today, though, it’s nearly impossible to run a primary care practice without being knowledgeable about addiction – and specialists are always looking for competent PCPs they can refer patients to for care.

Support Local Services

Finally, local addiction and recovery services will never improve unless the community – including PCPs – advocate for them, so take an active role in your area’s harm reduction efforts. This might include supporting local ERs offering addiction treatment on demand, advocating for needle exchanges, and offering training on how to use overdose reversal drugs like Narcan.

The opioid addiction epidemic has created a fraught environment about harm reduction, but the science supports it. Such simple interventions reduce disease transmission, minimize the number of overdose deaths, and reduce stigma, meaning those struggling with drug abuse are also more likely to seek help. Most importantly, though harm reduction encourages users to take an active role in their own well-being, and this sense of control is the first step towards recovery.

PCPs are supposed to be the central supports in our healthcare system, but too many are unable to fulfill this role because they don’t understand the medical and social issues underlying drug abuse and addiction treatment. It’s time to make this a continuing education priority – because every one of us can do more to help substance users get sober and get a second chance at life through better health.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

healthcare SaaS
Health careTechnology

Venture Capital Trends for Healthcare SaaS Platforms

May 24, 2024

HIMSS 12: Presenters Urge It’s Not About Technology, But Connecting People

February 23, 2012
Image
Health ReformPolicy & LawPublic Health

Arkansas Deal with HHS on Medicaid Expansion May Make Everyone Better Off

March 2, 2013

Using SlideShare Infographics to Create an Unforgettable Visual Voyage

November 7, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?