DEA Officially Removes X-Waiver Requirement For MOUD & Extends LAI MOUD Window

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) implemented a final rule that makes it easier for health care professionals to manage and prescribe medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD). The final rule, issued on June 9, 2026, went into effect the same day.

One provision in the new rule eliminates the need for medical professionals to obtain an X-waiver to prescribe and dispense controlled substances. This includes buprenorphine. An X-waiver has never been needed to prescribe methadone or other controlled substances. However, methadone can only be dispensed by an Opioid Treatment Program.

The final rule also extends the window for health care professionals to administer long-acting injectable or implantable formulations of MOUD from 14 days to 45 days. Under both limits, if the medication is not administered within the time limit, it cannot be kept as stock and may need to be destroyed.

The rule defines related training requirements for prescribing MOUD. Clinical professionals who seek to dispense controlled substances in Schedule II, III, IV, or V for maintenance or detoxification are required to satisfy a one-time training requirement. Buprenorphine is a schedule III medication; methadone is a schedule II medication. The one-time training requirement applies to any registration or renewal application submitted on or after June 27, 2023.

The final rule formally implements provisions from the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, which passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2023 – enacted in December 2022.The CAA eliminated the DATA-Waiver Program that required qualified professionals to obtain an X-waiver to dispense MOUD. The CAA also removed other federal requirements associated with the waiver such as discipline restrictions, consumer limits, and certification related to provision of counseling. In this final rule, the DEA is formalizing the sunset of these provisions, and responding to comments to an earlier interim final rule.

On June 1, 2026, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that it is decommissioning the Behavioral Waiver Notification System (BWNS) because the X-waivers are no longer needed for clinical professionals to prescribe buprenorphine. SAMHSA said the BWNS is therefore obsolete. SAMHSA is also removing the ability to search for individual buprenorphine practitioners in FindTreatment.gov. However, information about facilities that provide buprenorphine and other medications for opioid use disorder treatment will continue to be listed and searchable on FindTreatment.gov.

A link to the full text of DEA Final Rule: Implementation Of The Substance Use Disorder Prevention That Promotes Opioid Recovery & Treatment For Patients & Communities Act Of 2018: Dispensing & Administering Controlled Substances For Medication-Assisted Treatment is in the OPEN MINDS Circle Library.

The SAMHSA announcement was posted June 1, 2026 (accessed July 31, 2026).

For more information about the final rule, contact: Heather E. Achbach, Regulatory Drafting and Policy Support Section (DPW) Diversion Control Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, 8701 Morrissette Drive, Springfield, Virginia 22152; 571-776-3882; Website: https://www.dea.gov/.