ABSTRACT
Buprenorphine in sublingual tablet form (Subutex®) is registered in
Australia for the management of opioid dependence including mainte-
nance and detoxification, within a framework of medical, social, and
psychological treatment. This preparation is effective both in the long
term, as a maintenance treatment program, and in the short term as part
of a heroin withdrawal program. To assist in the safe and effective
implementation of buprenorphine treatment in Australia, the following
national guidelines were commissioned by the Commonwealth Depart-
ment of Health and Aged Care under the auspices of the National Expert
Advisory Committee on Illicit Drugs (NEACID).
