Buprenorphine is a highly effective first-line medication to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Buprenorphine treats opioid craving and withdrawal, is associated with reduced opioid use and risk of HIV and hepatitis C, lowers all-cause mortality and opioid overdose risk by 60%, and increases treatment retention.¹ The number needed to treat for buprenorphine to prevent 1 fatal opioid overdose is 52.6; for comparison, the number needed to treat for aspirin to prevent 1 nonfatal myocardial infarction is 333.²

Buprenorphine is 1 of 3 US Food and Drug Administration–approved medications for OUD (MOUD), along with methadone and extended-release naltrexone. All US Drug Enforcement Administration–licensed clinicians have been able to prescribe buprenorphine since 2023.³ Buprenorphine is unique among MOUD because it can be prescribed in all settings and initiated simultaneously with OUD diagnosis. This article aims to equip clinicians with basic tools and knowledge to initiate and continue buprenorphine treatment for patients with OUD to increase essential treatment access.