Just Say No : The Case Against the Reclassification of Buprenorphine

This Comment aims to examine the true extent of buprenorphine diversion and, thus, the public health impact that its reclassification as a Schedule II controlled substance would likely have. Part I details the increasing dependence on and abuse of opioids among vulnerable populations in the United States. Part II contextualizes this growing public health crisis, tracing the increased criminalization of narcotics by the federal government in the Twentieth Century. Narrowing this scope, Part III elaborates upon on the emergence of buprenorphine, its comparative advantage over methadone in the treatment of opioid dependence, and its treatment within the regulatory regime. In Part IV, the Comment concludes by assessing the scope of buprenorphine diversion, using a cost-benefit calculus to demonstrate that the detrimental impact of rescheduling on patients like George and society at large heavily outweighs its potential benefit