START

Sam is 34, and he began snorting oxycodone controlled release when he was 18. At first, he used the drug on weekends with friends. By 24, he was using opioids daily. He tried to self-detoxify several times and attended a residential program twice, but was unable to abstain from opioids for more than one month.

At 28, Sam began methadone maintenance treatment at a community clinic. After being on methadone for four years, he felt very stable and did not want to be on methadone anymore. Sam tapered his use slowly, with the guidance of his physician and support from his counsellor, and within one year he had completely stopped taking methadone.

After about a year, Sam relapses. He is crushing and snorting 80 mg of controlled release oxycodone 3-4 times a day.  He returns to the clinic and speaks with the physician who helped him in the methadone maintenance treatment program. Sam has read about buprenorphine and asks to be considered for this treatment.

What do you want to ask Sam at this point? (pick in order of importance, don't pick items that are not useful):