Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opiate Dependence (Report‪)‬

Opiate abuse and dependence in the US continues to be a significant public health problem. Opiates that are abused include pharmaceutical medications intended for treatment of pain (e.g., morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl), medications diverted from addiction treatment (e.g., methadone and buprenorphine) and illicitly produced opiates (e.g., opium and heroin). The abuse of opiates by oral ingestion, snorting or intravenous use has risks of adverse consequences to the user such as fatal overdose. Intravenous opiate abuse carries risks of injection of contaminants and exposure to needle-borne infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDs. Opiate abuse also includes risks to society, such as violence and property crimes related to dealing and acquiring drugs. Heroin abuse poses additional risks. Southern Afghanistan is a major opium poppy growing and heroin production region in which the opium trade is an integral part of the economy. Farmers depend on the Taliban to purchase their crops and the opium trade is a major funding source for Taliban military operations. During the U.S. Marines military offensive on Marjah, one objective was to disrupt the drug trade (McGirk 2010). Since US heroin abusers are a significant heroin market, they are, in effect, supporting the Taliban.