To overcome problematic opioid use, traditional forms of opioid substitution therapy, such as methadone and oral buprenorphine, have become valuable tools. Research shows that patients receiving substitution therapy are more likely to stay in treatment and stop using heroin than patients receiving treatments that do not involve substitutes – such as counselling or group therapy.
But not all those on substitute medication are able to stop using illicit opioids. Some continue to use them in addition to the substitute. One barrier to success is the need to attend a clinic or pharmacy every day, or every few days, to obtain the substitute.
In early 2019, a new form of substitute treatment, long-acting injectable buprenorphine, was approved for use in the UK. Unlike methadone and oral buprenorphine, long-acting injectable buprenorphine is administered via an injection either weekly or monthly. The treatment – also known by its brand names Buvidal or Sublocade – has been heralded as a “game changer” by both doctors and patients.
