Opioid Addiction Treatment: Medications for OUD & Treatment Options

Opioid addiction, also known as opioid use disorder, can pose many risks to your health and wellbeing. An opioid addiction treatment center may help you or a loved one quit opioid use and begin taking back control of your life. Keep reading to learn more about types of opioid treatment centers, medications and therapies used in opioid addiction treatment, and how to find an opioid addiction treatment center near you.

Treating Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction is a public health problem that affects millions of Americans on a daily basis, including the friends, family, and loved ones of those who are struggling with this condition. Some of the most commonly misused opioids across the country include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Fentanyl
• Heroin
• Codeine
• Kratom
• Tramadol
• Hydrocodone
• Morphine
• Hydromorphone
• Oxycodone

If you are addicted to these or other opioids, seeking professional treatment is an important step that can help you quit opioids and promote your long-term recovery and sobriety. Specifically, treatment with medication and counseling has been shown to help people successfully quit their opioid use, manage their recovery, and sustain better long-term health.¹ For many, this is made possible by participation in opioid treatment programs, or OTPs.

What are Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs)?

OTPs are accredited treatment programs with certification from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).¹ They are licensed to administer and dispense many FDA-approved medications to treat opioid addiction, however some medications (specifically methadone) can only be provided through specially licensed OTPs.¹ These programs are also required to provide appropriate medical, counseling, vocational, educational, and other assessment and treatment services.¹

There are several levels of care that individuals can receive this form of treatment through, including:

• Medical detox, which is often the first step in the treatment process for those looking to overcome opioid addiction. Here, patients will receive 24/7 supervision and medical care to help them safely manage withdrawal symptoms.²
• Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab, where patients live at the facility for the duration of their care (which can be anywhere from a few weeks to several months) while receiving a variety of therapeutic treatments geared towards sustaining long-term recovery.²
• Partial hospitalization programs for addiction (PHPs), which are considered the most intensive level of outpatient treatment available. Patients spend, on average, 4-8 hours each day, 5 days a week at the facility while receiving specialized care.³
• Intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs (IOPs), where patients spend less time at the facility each week than those in PHPs (approximately 9-20 hours per week) but still participate in therapeutic treatments to address their substance misuse or addiction.¹⁰
• Outpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs, which tend to be conducted on weeknights or the weekends, as they do not require the same type of time commitment as PHPs or IOPs do.³

In order to quit opioid use for good, some patients may participate in one or more of the levels of care listed above for a more involved, detailed approach to their recovery.

Medication for Treating Opioid Use Disorder

Medications are often used as a part of a comprehensive OUD treatment plan.¹ They may help make it easier for you to quit opioids while improving your overall health and wellbeing in different ways.¹ For example, research has shown that using medications to treat OUD results in reduced opioid use and a reduced risk of death from overdose.¹

Different opioid treatment medications can help people struggling with opioid addiction quit their use depending on the phase of the treatment process they are in. Specific medications are used for withdrawal and detox, maintenance during OUD treatment (once detox is complete), and opioid overdose.

Opioid withdrawal treatment medications can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings and keep you safe and comfortable. These medications include:

• Methadone, a medication known as an opioid agonist. It activates the same opioid receptors in your brain as the opioid you used; however, it is a long-acting opioid meaning you do not get the intense euphoria or intoxication compared to shorter-acting opioids.⁴ It also reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings.⁴ Federal regulations state that methadone must be administered by a certified opioid treatment program.^1,4
• Buprenorphine, a medication known as a partial opioid agonist, which means it only partially activates opioid receptors, so it has fewer side effects and a lower potential for misuse and overdose.⁵ It reduces cravings and minimizes withdrawal symptoms.⁵ It can be dispensed by certified physicians.⁴ Buprenorphine is available in combination with naloxone, known by brand names Suboxone or Zubsolv; naloxone blocks opioid effects so you won’t get high if you relapse.⁶
• Clonidine is not FDA-approved for opioid withdrawal but may be used off-label to reduce withdrawal symptoms.⁵ Unlike other withdrawal medications, it cannot cause intoxication and it is not reinforcing.⁵
• Lofexidine an FDA-approved, non-opioid medication used to treat withdrawal symptoms.⁴

You may also receive naltrexone, which prevents relapse following medically supervised withdrawal.¹ It completely blocks the rewarding effects of opioids, so you won’t get high or experience euphoria if you resume using them.⁴

Therapies That Can Help With Quitting Opioids

Rehabilitative services can include behavioral therapy, which is an important component of addiction treatment. Behavioral therapies can help you reduce or stop opioid use, help you make positive behavioral changes, teach you healthy life skills, and help you continue your medication regimen.^1,7

Behavioral therapies may include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you learn to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors related to opioid use.⁷ You will learn improved coping and stress management skills and learn about ways to manage triggers and prevent relapse.⁷
• Contingency management uses positive reinforcements (rewards) to motivate you to make healthy life changes.¹ It can also help you avoid opioid use and stay sober.
• Motivational enhancement/interviewing is designed to help increase your motivation to stop using opioids and build your internal motivation to enter recovery.¹
• Multidimensional family therapy was developed for teens struggling with substance use. It helps you work on personal and family issues related to your substance use patterns and can help improve functioning in your day-to-day life.⁷

Ongoing Opioid Addiction Recovery Support

Prior to completing your treatment program, your care team will work with you to put together an aftercare plan that meets your ongoing needs. Individuals who have quit opioids and who are looking to focus on their ongoing opioid addiction recovery support may participate in:

• Sober living.
• Local support groups.
• Individual therapy with a counselor.
• 12-Step meetings (such as Narcotics Anonymous, or NA).

For some, an aftercare plan involves the continuation of medication like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone to support their recovery as they begin this next chapter in their newly-sober lives.

Find Opioid Addiction Treatment Near Me

If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid use or think you may have an addiction, it’s important to seek help. Opioid addiction treatment near you can help you stop the cycle of misuse and take back control of your life. When you’re ready to reach out, American Addiction Centers (AAC) is here to help.

American Addiction Centers operates treatment centers across the nation and offers evidence-based treatment that can help you start the path to recovery. Please call our free, confidential helpline at to speak to one of our caring admissions navigators about opioid treatment near you, using health insurance to pay for rehab, and what rehab options may be right for your needs. We can also verify your insurance, or you can fill out the form below.