Adjunctive Counseling During Brief and Extended Buprenorphine-Naloxone Treatment for Prescription Opioid Dependence

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Abstract
Abuse of prescription opioids is a significant public health and policy1 concern, with increasing rates of nonmedical use,2 emergency department visits,3 addiction treatment episodes,4 overdose deaths,5 and costs6 related to these drugs in recent years. Despite the growing prevalence of prescription opioid dependence and the availability and increasing use7 of buprenorphine hydrochloride treatment (primarily as buprenorphine hydrochloride–naloxone hydrochloride) in physician offices, most opioid dependence treatment research has been conducted with heroin-dependent patients receiving methadone in specialized opioid dependence treatment programs. It is notable, however, that in 2009, the use of a prescription opioid for nonmedical reasons was 20 times more common than was heroin use.8 Moreover, almost 50% more people sought treatment for dependence on prescription opioids than for dependence on heroin.8 Thus, studying treatments for individuals dependent on prescription opioids has clear public health importance.