Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist used for medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder. Branded as Suboxone (combined with naloxone, oral film), Subutex (oral, no naloxone), or Sublocade (monthly injection). Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the high of full opioids.

Black patients with opioid use disorder are less likely to receive buprenorphine than white patients, partly due to the X-waiver requirement (since removed in 2023) that limited prescriber supply in Black-majority communities. Access has expanded under the post-2023 regulatory environment but the prescriber-supply gap persists.