Millions of people are affected by opioid addiction.
Over 2.5 million people in the United States have an opioid use disorder, which resulted in over 28,000 overdose deaths in 2014.
1,2
Opioids, such as heroin and prescription pain medications, can cause neonatal abstinence syndrome and the spread of infectious illnesses such as HIV and Hepatitis.
Medications that work are available.
For the treatment of opioid use disorders, medications such as buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®), methadone, and extended release naltrexone (Vivitrol®) are helpful.
MAT Reduces opioid usage, overdose fatalities caused by opioids, criminal activities, and the spread of infectious diseases. 4,5,6 During the research period, which concluded in 2009, heroin overdose fatalities in Baltimore fell by 37% when buprenorphine became available. 6
MAT Improves social functioning and treatment adherence. 4,5 When compared to individuals who did not get medication, those who received medication were more likely to stay in therapy. 4
Methadone or buprenorphine treatment for opioid-dependent pregnant women improves their kids’ outcomes; MAT decreases symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome and length of hospital stay.
7
Improving Medications with Science-Based Solutions
SublocadeTM, the first once-monthly buprenorphine injection, was authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration in November 2017 for moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder in adult patients who have started treatment with transmucosal buprenorphine-containing medications. Along with Probuphine®, an implanted buprenorphine formulation authorised in May 2016, this drug eliminates the need for daily dosage and improves treatment retention. Probuphine: A Game-Changer in the Fight Against Opioid Dependence is the Director’s blog.
Patients in Need are Reached
The emergency department (ED) is an excellent place to assess individuals for opioid use disorder and begin MAT treatment. When compared to patients who are referred for therapy, those who start MAT in the emergency room are more than twice as likely to stick with it. Read the JAMA article – Buprenorphine/Naloxone Treatment for Opioid Dependence Begun in the Emergency Department.
Treatment with extended-release naltrexone decreased relapse rates among criminal justice participants with a history of opioid addiction, according to a new study. Read the article Extended-Release Naltrexone to Prevent Opioid Relapse in Criminal Justice Offenders in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Medicine isn’t widely used.
Only about half of privately financed drug abuse treatment facilities provide MAT, and only about a third of patients with opioid addiction in these programmes receive it.
8
From 35 percent in 2002 to 28 percent in2012, the proportion of opioid treatment admissions with treatment regimens that included getting medicines decreased.
9
Almost all states in the United States lack the treatment capacity to deliver MAT to all individuals with opioid use disorders.
Medications Myths: 10 Facts to Know
Methadone and buprenorphine DO NOT WORK AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR OTHER ADDICTIONS. When someone is being treated for opioid addiction, the medicine utilised does not get them euphoric; instead, it helps to lessen opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. These medicines help the patient’s brain repair while working toward recovery by restoring equilibrium to the brain circuits disrupted by addiction.
Buprenorphine diversion is infrequent, but when it does happen, it’s usually for the purpose of treating withdrawal symptoms.
Prescription pain medications, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, are considerably more commonly diverted; buprenorphine accounted for fewer than 1% of all recorded medicines diverted in the United States in 2014.13
New Treatments Driven by Solutions
Vaccines under development now target opioids in the circulation, preventing them from reaching the brain and causing euphoric effects.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, a unique, non-invasive brain stimulation method, is being studied by researchers to see whether it may be used to treat opioid use disorder.
Improving Treatment Delivery – Researchers are looking into how the health-care system can reach more individuals who need aid, as well as assisting physicians in determining which therapies are most successful for specific patients.
Reaching Justice-Involved Youth – Through our Juvenile Justice Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System (JJ-TRIALS) initiative, NIDA-funded research is aimed at identifying the most effective strategies for improving the delivery of evidence-based prevention and treatment services for youth. More information on Justice System Research Initiatives may be found here.
According to the World Health Organization, buprenorphine and methadone are “essential medications.”
3
According to an NIDA research, both a buprenorphine/naloxone combination and an extended release naltrexone formulation are equally effective in treating opioid use disorder after treatment is started. However, because naltrexone needs complete detoxification, it was more difficult to start therapy among active users. Both medicines were equally effective after detoxification was completed.
For a “whole patient” approach, medications should be coupled with behavioural therapy, which is known as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Methadone Clinics Nearby – Methadone Clinic New York City – Methadone Clinics USA
