FP John Brooklyn, M.D., was involved in buprenorphine research as far back as 1992 and was one of the first physicians in Vermont to take the required buprenorphine certification training. He's now added buprenorphine mentor to a list of duties that already included staff physician at the Community Health Center of Burlington, Vt., and medical director of the methadone clinic there.
"Once you start to investigate and ask the right questions, you'll find out that some of your patients are misusing prescriptions or using illicit drugs," said Brooklyn. He suggested that physicians tease out substance abuse problems by asking questions like these:
- When did you last drink alcohol and how much did you drink?
- Have you ever had difficulty with opiates or prescription painkillers?
- Have you ever taken someone else's medicine?
- Have you ever been in recovery for substance abuse?
The last question is especially important to ask before prescribing narcotic pain medication for an acute medical condition, said Brooklyn.
