Medication-Assisted Treatment

Having been the most popular and widely used choice for decades in combating opioid use disorders, methadone has established itself as a well-proven and effective medication that can significantly aid in curbing opioid addiction. Administered orally, methadone is considered safe for long-term use while discontinuing opioid consumption, provided it is used appropriately and under medical supervision. In cases of severe addiction, attempting to quit without the assistance of medication can result in intense and distressing withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, when prescribed, methadone is typically used daily during detoxification, ensuring a more controlled and manageable transition toward recovery.

Buprenorphine, sold under the brand name Subutex, is used for opioid addiction once withdrawal symptoms have begun. Subutex comes in tablets or films which are dissolved under the tongue. The goal of this medication is to suppress and reduce cravings for opioids, with high doses making it almost impossible to feel the effects of further opiates.

Subutex must be administered when the client is already in withdrawal. Otherwise, it can put them into a severe instantaneous withdrawal. This is why it is recommended that a client is induced into this in a controlled environment. It is also important to note that Subutex can only be taken for a limited amount of time, as it has the potential to increase opioid dependency when overused.

A naltrexone implant is placed under the skin, which releases over a period of several months and blocks the user from feeling the effects of any opiate. Unlike with other medications where a client can accidentally miss a dose, forget an appointment, or skip a dose in order to revert to their addiction, these implants work for months at a time with no additional effort. Other medications may only work for a few days at a time, but naltrexone implants slowly release, relieving the pressure of remembering each dose.