On January 1, 2018, amendments to Professional Practice Policy – 66, including changing its name from “Methadone Maintenance Treatment” to “Opioid Agonist Treatment,” came into effect. These amendments also include the introduction of new policy guides for buprenorphine/naloxone, and slow-release oral morphine.
On June 5, 2017, the BC Centre on Substance Use released new Provincial Guidelines for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder. The new guidelines recommend buprenorphine/naloxone as the preferred first-line opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder. Methadone remains a first line option when buprenorphine/naloxone is contraindicated or unfeasible, and slow-release oral morphine may be used when both the first and second-line treatments are ineffective. This guideline serves as the provincial clinical practice guideline for all clinicians who wish to prescribe oral opioid agonist treatment (OAT) to patients with opioid use disorders.
To support these new opioid agonist treatment options, Professional Practice Policy-66 now includes policy guides for Buprenorphine/Naloxone Maintenance Treatment and Slow Release Oral Morphine Maintenance Treatment. The existing policy guide for Methadone Maintenance Treatment continues to be in effect.
The new BCCSU guidelines recommend buprenorphine/naloxone as the preferred first-line opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder. Methadone remains a first line option when buprenorphine/naloxone is contraindicated or unfeasible, and slow-release oral morphine may be used when both the first and second-line treatments are ineffective. This guideline will serve as the provincial clinical practice guideline for all clinicians who wish to prescribe oral OAT to patients with opioid use disorders.
The policy amendments and two new guides are in effect as of January 1, 2018.
The amended Professional Practice Policy-66, policy guides and additional resources are available at bcpharmacists.org/oat.
For a summary of the amendments to the policy and the two new guides, take a look at this ReadLinks article.