The below fact cards provide information for individuals on drug overdose, methadone & buprenorphine, and safer injecting practices, as well as links to further resources and when individuals should seek medical attention. We participate in Project DAWN, which is a network of Ohio-based programs that provide free take-home naloxone kits without a prescription. Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is a medication that can reverse an opioid Substance abuse overdose.
Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment
Availability of injectable opioid agonist treatment varies by province and territory. This reduces the frequency of doses and the risk from ongoing injections. In some cases, it may be possible to eventually stop using methadone. The dose should be lowered very slowly over time to ease the process of withdrawal. Opioid use disorder treatment can vary depending the patient’s individual needs, occur in a variety of settings, take many different forms, and last for varying lengths of time.
What are symptoms of an opioid use disorder?
For example, if you’ve been using opioids for a week or 2 to manage pain, you may become physically dependant on the opioid. However, you are not using the opioid in a way that harms you or others. The immune system becomes compromised with chronic opioid use, leaving individuals opioid addiction treatment more susceptible to infections and illnesses of all types. Wound healing is slowed, and the body’s ability to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens is diminished, leading to frequent infections that can become serious or life-threatening if not treated promptly and appropriately. Respiratory depression is the most serious immediate risk of opioid use, as these substances can slow breathing to dangerously low levels or stop it entirely, leading to brain damage or death from lack of oxygen to vital organs.
- Meetings are free to attend and are held every day in locations all over the world.
- It provides resources and training to educate pharmacy staff, add value to the consumer’s experience, and aims to increase business growth with tailored health promotions and resources.
- MI helps individuals who feel uncertain about quitting by strengthening their motivation and commitment to recovery.
- Recovery from fentanyl addiction is a lifelong journey that extends far beyond initial treatment.
Naltrexone
They may be combined with other forms of treatment, or you may need to try more than one to find one that works for you. Medications for opioid use disorder are safe, effective, and save lives. Let your provider know if anything doesn’t feel right or if you’re having a hard time managing this condition. Opioid use disorder may lead to overdose (taking too much of an opioid than what your body can handle). This is a deadly complication that affects your breathing if it isn’t treated in time.
Talking to your health care provider
It also helps connect people with professionals, resources, and information to help them once they seek treatment and stop using opioids. Harm reduction focuses on reducing the physical and social harms that affect people who use heroin (and sometimes other opioids) rather than on encouraging the person to quit. When considering addiction treatment, it’s crucial to establish that it’s evidence-based, which means that the treatment has been studied and shown to be effective for many people with the condition. «FDA approves first buprenorphine implant for treatment of opioid dependence.»