The NCRPI supports a Buprenorphine Waiver Training for DoD providers.

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid medication derived from thebaine. Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist. This means that, although Buprenorphine is an opioid, and thus can produce typical opioid effects and side effects such as euphoria and respiratory depression, its full effects are less than those of full agonists like heroin and methadone. At low doses Buprenorphine produces sufficient agonist effect to enable opioid-addicted individuals to discontinue the misuse of opioids without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, Buprenorphine for Addiction Treatment of Substance Use Disorders can target the brain in a different way by aiming at improving treatment outcomes. Buprenorphine is one of the three medications approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorders. Research shows that Buprenorphine is one of three medications that when combined with therapy, results in increased positive patient outcomes over a single treatment modality.