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Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)

What is medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)?

  • MOUD is a medication treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). When used as prescribed, it can decrease your chance of overdose, death, or getting infections related to drug use
  • MOUD is a proven life-saving treatment for opioid addiction
  • MOUD works by treating withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings.
  • MOUD can be used in combination with counseling and therapy to help you stop using opioids.

Methadone

  • Methadone prevents withdrawal and decreases cravings
  • Daily pill, liquid, or wafer
  • Dose adjusted based on your needs
Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
  • Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids
  • Monthly injection
  • If you take opioids or heroin, you won’t feel high
  • You must be free from opioids for at least 7-10 days before starting Naltrexone
  • It is also used to treat alcohol use disorder
  • Before stopping, please talk to your provider

Buprenorphine

  • Buprenorphine blocks the effects of other opioids or heroin, prevents withdrawal and decreases cravings
  • Can be prescribed at addiction treatment centers or by some primary care providers

Types of buprenorphine:

Subutex

  • Contains only buprenorphine
  • Sublingual (under the tongue) pill

Suboxone

  • <>Contains buprenorphine AND naloxone
  • Pill or film

Sublocade

  • Monthly injection
  • Don’t have to remember to take a pill every day
  • Must be on stable sublingual (under the tongue) dose before starting



FIND A BUPRENORPHINE PROVIDER NEAR YOU

Identifying an Opioid Overdose

Identifying an Opioid Overdose
  • Person doesn’t wake up after you shout, shake their shoulders, or firmly rub the middle of their chest
  • Breathing is very slow, irregular or has stopped
  • Pupils are very small, “pinpoint”
Naloxone (Narcan)
  • Can be used to reverse an opioid overdose
  • Must be administered within a few minutes of overdose
  • Nose spray or muscle injection
  • You can get it from a local Walgreens or other pharmacy with Medicaid, Medicare, or other insurance
  • Has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system
How to deliver Naloxone (Narcan)
  1. Call 911. Keep in mind that Connecticut Good Samaritan Laws protect you from arrest while giving assistance even if you have drugs or paraphernalia on you.
  2. Tilt the person’s head back, support their neck
  3. Insert the device into one nostril
  4. Push up quickly on the plunger with your thumb
  5. Move person into recovery position
  6. Give another dose if there is no response after 2-3 minutes

Safe Injection Guidance

IF POSSIBLE, DO NOT INJECT ALONE

Why should needles only be used once?
  • Using a needle more than once increases risk for infection (i.e. HIV or Hep C) even if you’re not sharing
  • The tip of a needle becomes duller and ragged after each use
  • Should not share or reuse supplies
If I must reuse, can I clean it?
  • Yes, clean with bleach.
  • Fill needle and syringe with distilled bleach and keep full for at least 2 minutes. Rinse several times with clean, cold water (sterile or boiled)
  • If you must use water from a toilet, use from the tanks not the bowl
  • To avoid reusing, visit a local confidential syringe service
Which veins are safer to inject into?
  • Injecting in the arm or hand is safer
  • Avoid injecting in the neck, groin, legs or feet
  • Avoid skin or muscle popping
  • Visit the MQI Safer Injecting Guide for more information.
  • If you accidentally hit an artery call 911 or go to ED, untie, pull out, and apply pressure to wound for 10 minutes.

More Information

Clinical Guides on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder :

More information about substance use

More information on HIV More information on Hepatitis C