Two Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), are advocating for a more lenient approach by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in regulating buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction. Commonly known as “Bupe” or Suboxone, buprenorphine is one of the two approved medications for combating opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Despite its effectiveness in reducing the risk of opioid-related deaths by 38%, buprenorphine faces scrutiny due to its classification as an opioid.
The lawmakers have introduced a new legislative proposal named the Broadening Utilization of Proven and Effective Treatment for Recovery Act, also known as the “BUPE Act.” This act aims to compel the DEA to relax its monitoring of buprenorphine, specifically exempting it from the Suspicious Order Reporting System (SORS) established by the agency in 2019. The SORS was initially created to address the oversupply of prescription painkillers contributing to the opioid epidemic.
However, Heinrich and Tonko argue that the SORS may be hindering access to buprenorphine, the medication crucial for treating opioid addiction. With prescription opioid volumes declining and illicit fentanyl becoming a major cause of fatal overdoses, the lawmakers believe that the stringent DEA requirements are impeding access to life-saving medication during a critical overdose epidemic.
Despite the Biden administration’s emphasis on expanding access to buprenorphine, patients still encounter challenges in obtaining the medication due to limited prescribing physicians and pharmacy availability. The BUPE Act seeks to exclude buprenorphine from SORS until the end of the public health emergency related to the opioid crisis, allowing for a reassessment by the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services post-crisis.
Major medical organizations including the American Medical Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Pharmacists Association, and Faces and Voices of Recovery have endorsed the legislation. This initiative coincides with the ongoing debate surrounding buprenorphine regulations, particularly regarding telehealth prescribing. The DEA is facing scrutiny from lawmakers, addiction treatment groups, and pushback from the Department of Health and Human Services on its restrictions regarding telehealth prescribing of buprenorphine.
The introduction of the BUPE Act adds to the pressure on the DEA, highlighting the importance of ensuring access to buprenorphine for individuals battling opioid addiction. The bipartisan support for this legislation underscores the critical need to address barriers to effective opioid addiction treatment and save lives in the midst of the opioid crisis.
