New drug helps with addiction to painkillers

A relatively new drug approved by the FDA is expanding options for people addicted to prescription painkillers, allowing primary-care physicians for the first time to deliver office-based medication for addicts.

Called Buprenorphine, the drug is related to morphine but does not cause the same high, dependence or withdrawal syndrome.

Dr. Barbara Hardy, associate director of the Utah Addiction Center, said the availability of the drug means people hooked on Lortab or OxyContin no longer necessarily have to be on a waiting list to get into Salt Lake County's public methadone clinic.

"This provides an opportunity for primary care physicians to get involved in addressing the addiction issue," she said. "It is a mechanism for them to help treat their patients who are addicted to pain meds."

Physicians will gather in Salt Lake City Saturday to participate in training that is required in advance of being able to prescribe the medication. Sponsored by the Utah Addiction Center and the University of Utah, the training is designed to get more physicians on board in early intervention of drug addiction treatment.

Although approved two years ago by the FDA, Hardy said the medical community is still learning about the medication, its effectiveness and in what circumstances it can be prescribed.

"Utah has maybe seven physicians statewide who have received the training," Hardy said.

One of those, Dr. Michael Measom, said he has prescribed the medication on an outpatient basis.

"Treatment is much easier with a higher success rate," said Measom, an addiction psychiatrist who works at Valley Mental Health and for the University of Utah.

"You used to have to do a bunch of different medications and it wasn't as comfortable for the patient. This stops the opiate withdrawal symptoms."

Measom said he believes the medication will allow family physicians often on the front line of spotting addictions to deliver an effective treatment.

That is good news for Advocates for Improved Understanding of Addictive Disease, a group made up of a wide variety of community members — bankers, religious leaders, lawmakers and social service providers.

The group, which includes Hardy, strives to increase public awareness and understanding of addiction, its treatment and prevention.

In a recent committee presentation on the upcoming training for physicians, Hardy said it is critical to involve the health care community at a deeper level regarding addiction and treatment.