What is required for a physician to prescribe naloxone/buprenorphine?

For a physician to prescribe naloxone/buprenorphine, they must obtain a special DEA registration, which is identified by an 'X' prefix. This requirement is part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and the Drug Addiction Treatment Act, which established specific training and credentialing for practitioners who wish to prescribe medications for opioid use disorders, including buprenorphine. The special registration ensures that the prescriber has received specific training in addiction treatment, allowing them to legally prescribe these medications in an outpatient setting.

This regulation is crucial for maintaining standards in the treatment of opioid use disorders and ensuring that patients receive appropriate and responsible care when being prescribed medications with potential for misuse. As such, the necessity of the special DEA registration helps to monitor and manage the treatment of addiction comprehensively.