The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will come to Phoenix, Arizona on November 9 as part of its education initiative, to inform physicians and the public about buprenorphine, a new office-based medical treatment for addiction to prescription pain relievers and other opiate drugs, such as heroin.

The forum will offer information about the science of buprenorphine and the federal requirements for establishing this new office-based treatment.

According to nationwide data from SAMHSA's 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 4.7 percent of the population misused prescription pain relievers in the past year.

SAMHSA has targeted selected metropolitan areas impacted by drug abuse or opiate dependence problems in a continued effort to get more physicians, pharmacists, and treatment providers familiar with this new medication-assisted treatment option.

Another recent study by SAMHSA, identified 389 drug misuse-related deaths in Phoenix and surrounding Maricopa County in 2003, some 227 involved prescription pain relievers and heroin.