Royal College of General Practitioners

Guidance for the use of substitute prescribing in the treatment of opioid dependence in primary care Acknowledgements: Thanks to the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Regional Leads and the many others, who have contributed to developing this guide. a) These guidelines have been: Updated in line with Guidance on methadone and buprenorphine for the management of opioid dependence and Drug Misuse: opioid detoxification (NICE 2007) and Drug Misuse and Dependence — Guidelines for Clinical Management (2007). b) Combined and adapted from: 1. Guidance for the use of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence in primary care (2004) 2. Guidance for the use of methadone for the treatment of opioid dependence in primary care (2005) Disclaimer This publication is intended for the use of medical practitioners in the UK and not for patients. The authors, editors and publishers have taken care to ensure that the information contained in this book is correct to the best of their knowledge, at the time of publication. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, particularly related to the prescription of drugs, the authors, editors and publishers cannot accept liability for information that is subsequently shown to be wrong. Readers are advised to check that the information, especially that related to drug usage, complies with information contained in the British Formulary, or equivalent, or manufacturers datasheets, and that it complies with the latest legislation and standards of practice.