John C. Messinger, BS; Anand Chukka, AB; J. Wesley Boyd, MD, PhD
Corresponding Author: John C. Messinger, BS; Harvard Medical School.
Contact Email: john_messinger@hms.harvard.edu
Section: Commentary
Publication Date: 3/22/2022
The rate of overdose deaths has increased dramatically over the past two decades. Recently, efforts have been made to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine, by removing X-waiver training requirements. However, relieving such barriers has also raised concern for increasing rates of diversion of buprenorphine, defined as the use of buprenorphine for some purpose or by someone other than it was originally intended. Historically, diversion has been addressed through criminalization of buprenorphine possession without a prescription. We argue that while buprenorphine diversion is not to be condoned, the benefits of such actions greatly outweigh the harms. Thus, criminalization of diverted buprenorphine represents a dangerous and wasteful response that threatens the progress made through expanded access to this lifesaving medication.