Disclosure Log

Long-acting injectable buprenorphine Buvidal (FOI/7564)

Message from Nottinghamshire County Council - 20 March 2026

Dear Requester,
Request FOI/7564
Further to your request received on 18th March 2026, I confirm that the Council has now considered your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Questions & Answers)
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the commissioning and use of long-acting injectable buprenorphine (Buvidal) within your drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. Please provide the following information for the financial years 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25 (and 2025/26 where available):
  1. COMMISSIONING AND POLICY
1a. Does your current contract with your drug and alcohol treatment provider(s) include provision for Buvidal (long-acting injectable buprenorphine) Please provide a yes/no answer for each financial year.  The contract is an outcome-based contract, but it is funded in Nottinghamshire through the DATRIG.
2022/23 - Yes
2023/24 - Yes
2024/25 - Yes
2025/26 - Yes
1b. If yes, when was Buvidal first included as a funded treatment option within your commissioned services 2021.
1c. Does your council have a written policy, clinical pathway, or formulary decision regarding Buvidal If so, please provide a copy or summary. No, it is down to the provider.
  1. EXPENDITURE
2a. What was the total expenditure on Buvidal within your commissioned drug and alcohol treatment services in each financial year 
2022/23 - £116,320
2023/24 - £169,605
2024/25 - £247,500
2025/26 - £258,107


2b. From which budget line(s) was this expenditure drawn (e.g. Public Health Grant, SSMTRG, DATRIG, or other) SSMTG until it changed to DATRIG.
  1. PATIENT NUMBERS
3a. How many patients were initiated on Buvidal in each financial year
2022/23 - 40
2023/24 - 40
2024/25 - 75
2025/26 - 80

3b. What proportion of your total opioid substitution therapy (OST) caseload does this represent 25/26 this represents 4.2% of Opiate caseloads.
  1. BARRIERS AND DECISION-MAKING
4a. Has your council or your commissioned provider(s) conducted any formal review or assessment of Buvidal as a treatment option If so, please provide any written outputs from this review. No.
4b. Are there any documented reasons why Buvidal has not been commissioned or expanded, if applicable No but expanded with increases DATRIG funding. 

We hope you find this information useful.
The Council publishes Access to Information requests and responses on its online Disclosure Log. Only requests deemed to be in the public interest will be included and any request included within this log will be de-personalised accordingly.
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Yours sincerely



Freedom of Information
Complaints and Information Team
Chief Executives Department                                         
Nottinghamshire County Council
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