• The objective of this guideline is to provide clinical recommendations for the initiation, maintenance and discontinuation of buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance treatment in the ambulatory treatment of adults and adolescents with opioid dependence in Ontario.
• The guideline intends to contribute to education of practitioners regarding opioid prescribing, improved patient access to treatment for opioid dependence, and safe prescribing and dispensing of buprenorphine/naloxone.
• This evidence-based clinical practice guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary committee, and included specialists in the field of addiction medicine, family medicine and pharmacy.
• A systematic review of the literature formed the evidence base for this guideline, and recommendations were assigned levels of evidence and grades of recommendations based on those developed by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.