With opioid use disorder, the goals of treatment include minimizing harms from ongoing use, reduction or cessation of symptoms, protection against the risk of overdose or death and improvement in physical and psychological health. Using medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder can help achieve these goals. Medications include methadone which is a full agonist, buprenorphine which is a partial agonist or naltrexone which is an antagonist. Each of these carries limitations and the choice of treatment for any given patient should be individualized to address their needs and other risk factors.
Access “Overview of Medication Assisted Treatment” at: https://pcssnow.org/medication-assisted-treatment/
More information can be found at: https://www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/mat/mat-overview