Educational Information

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 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

• 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”

• 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

IF POSSIBLE, DO NOT INJECT ALONE

• 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

• 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

• 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.