The study will be funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse and will judge the effectiveness of the medication buprenorphine/naloxone tablets (brand name Suboxone) that helps users cut dependency on addictive painkillers. The study will monitor 648 patients and will also document the effectiveness of several different types of counseling.

The study will be conducted at New York University Medical Center, New York City, with the help of Bellevue Hospital Center, and 10 other sites across the country.

The patients will receive Suboxone for one month at the beginning of the examination period. The dose will be tapered off as part of a detoxification process. Patients who go two months without abusing painkillers will have completed the study.

According to HealthDay, Half of the patients in the study will also be enrolled in an intensive individualized drug counseling program when they get their Suboxone prescriptions. The other half of the patients will receive a brief drug counseling session from their doctors.

NIDA director Dr. Nora D. Volkow said, "Opioid analgesics were designed to help people in pain, and we want to be sure that those who require them for legitimate reasons can continue to effectively manage their pain. However, we must also recognize the risk of addiction to pain medications and develop treatments for those who become addicted to them. This trial is an important first step in reaching that goal."

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