Physician Assistants in many states in the US have prescribing rights, including rights to prescribe Schedule II, III, IV, and V substances. However, Physician Assistants are not allowed to prescribe Suboxone, a drug that has proven to have a high success rate in treating opioid dependency. Suboxone is only a schedule III prescription drug. Under current law, a PA can prescribe as much morphine and oxycontin as they want, but they cannot prescribe Suboxone, the one substance that could really help end addiction.
Currently, many PAs work in addiction clinics and could help reduce the burden of overwhelmed physicians. Under current law, in states where Physician Assistants have prescribing rights, it would be great if they could apply for a DEA X license to prescribe Suboxone.