Expanding Access to Treatment for Opioid Addiction: The Baltimore Buprenorphine Initiatve

The Baltimore Buprenorphine Initiative (BBI) was developed in 2006 and promotes individualized, patient-centered buprenorphine therapy in conjunction with behavioral treatment with a goal of recovery from opioid addiction. The BBI provides a continuum of care that includes outpatient treatment, medication induction, as well as maintenance and stabilization in the medical care system. Buprenorphine treatment offers a new treatment alternative for patients addicted to opioids and a new opportunity for expanding access to treatment in local and state jurisdictions with high rates of opioid abuse. Barriers to initiation of buprenorphine services at the system level include inability to recuit certified physicians and lack of acceptance and capacity to support medication assisted treatment. This workshop will describe the benefits of buprenorphine treatment, strategies for successful start-up, implementation and expansion, as well as concrete examples of how process improvement efforts can be used to improve the quality of care and increase customer satisfaction. Lessons learned from the nearly four years of experience of the BBI will be shared. Commonly encountered barriers to implementing buprenorphine treatment and solutions for partnership development and program planning will be discussed. Each participant will be able to use an assessment tool to identify current challenges and opportunities for implementing, expanding, and improving buprenorphine services in their jurisdiction or treatment program.