LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 355.06 Buprenorphine Extended-Release (SUBLOCADE) Injection
 
Policy Category:  Clinical
Distribution Level:  Directly Operated
Responsible Party:  Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
 
Approved by Curley L. Bonds II, MD, Chief Medical Officer, on Mar 04, 2024
 
I.  PURPOSE
 
This policy establishes the use of buprenorphine extended-release (SUBLOCADE) injection as a treatment for moderate to severe opioid use disorder in clients who have initiated treatment with a transmucosal buprenorphine-containing product, followed by dose adjustment for a minimum of 7 days, in Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH/Department) directly operated programs.
 
II.  DEFINITIONS
 
Authorized Personnel: Registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, psychiatric technicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and clinical pharmacists.

Clinic: Any DMH directly operated program.
 
III.  POLICY
 
SUBLOCADE shall only be obtained through a restricted distribution program called SUBLOCADE Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) as required by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

SUBLOCADE prescription shall only be sent to a REMS-certified community, retail, or specialty pharmacy.

Only authorized personnel who have received training shall administer SUBLOCADE.

Under no circumstances shall SUBLOCADE be:
  • Dispensed or given to a client for home use
  • Transferred to another client
  • Loaned to another client 
  • Sold to anyone
  • Returned to a dispensing pharmacy
Authorized staff shall follow documentation requirements detailed in the attached procedure for SUBLOCADE administration.

Authorized staff shall administer SUBLOCADE by abdominal subcutaneous injection only.

A permanent record for training shall be kept, maintained, and be readily accessible.

A record of all shipments of SUBLOCADE received and dispensed shall be kept for a minimum of 3 years and be readily accessible. The record shall also include client name, dose, and date administered.

Once SUBLOCADE is delivered to the clinic, it shall be:
  • Labeled with a 14-day expiration date beginning from date of receipt
  • Storage of SUBLOCADE shall be in accordance with DMH Medication Storage Policy 352.14
  • Kept in a secure place per state and federal regulations
  • Store refrigerated
  • Once outside the refrigerator, this product may be stored in its original packaging at room temperature for up to seven (7) days prior to administration
Discard SUBLOCADE if left at room temperature for longer than seven (7) days.
 
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
Procedures - Buprenorphine Extended-Release (SUBLOCADE) Injection
 
V.  AUTHORITY
 
VI.  ATTACHMENT