Opioid use disorder is not a choice or a weakness. It is a chronic brain disease that needs treatment, just like other diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone can be used to treat opioid use disorder. Different medications for opioid use disorder work slightly differently in the brain and body. People can safely take these medications for months to years. Check with your healthcare provider about which medication is right for you. If you want to stop or change your medication, you should first talk with your healthcare provider.

What are the facts about medications for opioid use disorder?

Medication can help you achieve long term success.

Research shows that if you use these medications for at least one to two years, you have the greatest chance of long-term success. These medications have been proven to be the most effective treatments available for opioid use disorder and are often used in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies.

Medication reduces your risk for overdose.

Medication helps prevent overdose. Research has shown that the use of methadone or buprenorphine results in reductions in overdose death by more than 50%.

Medication improves peoples’ lives and futures.

Not only do these medications reduce risks of overdose and overdose death, but they have been associated with improving peoples’ ability to gain employment and reductions in involvement with the criminal justice system.

Medication will not disrupt your recovery process.

Medication can help your recovery by improving your quality of life. Medication can prevent withdrawal and cravings and help you abstain from other opioid use. By controlling opioid withdrawal and cravings, these medications can help people stop their use of non-prescribed opioids, such as heroin, fentanyl, or oxycodone.