What does the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 allow physicians to prescribe?

The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 specifically allows qualified physicians to prescribe certain controlled substances for the treatment of opioid dependence. The medications that can be prescribed under this act are limited to certain classifications, namely Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances that have been pre-approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for use in treating opioid addiction.

This act was introduced to provide a legal pathway for physicians to treat patients with opioid dependency using medication-assisted treatment. These medications include buprenorphine, which is a C-III drug that can be prescribed independently by trained practitioners for patients. The act does not extend permission to prescribe higher schedule drugs, like those in Schedule I or C-II, without restrictions.

By design, the focus on certain lower-schedule drugs helps to balance the need for effective treatment of addiction while also considering the potential for misuse and diversion that could accompany more highly regulated substances. Thus, the correct choice highlights the specific class of medications that can be utilized for this purpose under the regulations set forth by the act.