What does the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) exclude from the services of waivered providers in office-based opioid treatment?

The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) specifically permits certain medications for use in office-based opioid treatment, with defined restrictions. One of the key points of this Act is that it allows for the treatment of opioid addiction with medications approved by the FDA for use in maintenance or detoxification, specifically highlighting buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone.

However, DATA 2000 excludes methadone from the services of waivered providers in office-based treatment settings. Methadone can only be prescribed in federally licensed opioid treatment programs (OTPs) due to its regulatory status and potential for misuse and complications in an outpatient setting. By excluding methadone, the Act ensures that stronger, more controlled substances are managed in specialized environments to safeguard against potential risks associated with their higher addictive properties.

In contrast, medications that are FDA approved for maintenance or detoxification, those in schedules III, IV, or V, and specifically buprenorphine or buprenorphine/naloxone are included within the scope of what waivered providers can prescribe in an office-based setting under this legislation. This distinction underscores the intention of DATA 2000 to promote the safe and responsible use of medications while managing the risks