Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Durham
At Carolina Recovery, we provide compassionate and professional care for individuals living with opioid use disorder. Our treatment programs combine FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to reduce cravings, ease withdrawal symptoms, and support long-term recovery. Located in Durham, our center is committed to helping patients regain control of their lives with effective and evidence-based care.
Medication for opioid use disorder gives patients in Durham a safe and effective way to manage cravings, reduce withdrawal symptoms, and lower overdose risk. This treatment uses FDA-approved medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, combined with counseling and behavioral therapy. By addressing both the physical and mental sides of opioid dependence, medication-assisted treatment offers a clear path to recovery and long-term health.
In this blog, we explain how medication for opioid use disorder works, review the three FDA approved medications, and show how Carolina Recovery supports patients in Durham through our local opioid rehab center.
What Is Medication for Opioid Use Disorder?
Medication for opioid use disorder is a proven treatment that helps people manage cravings, reduce withdrawal symptoms, and lower the risk of relapse.
Understanding Opioid Use Disorder
Opioid use disorder is a chronic condition that develops when repeated opioid use changes how the brain’s opioid receptors respond to drugs. People may experience strong cravings, dependence, and dangerous opioid withdrawal symptoms when they stop using. Left untreated, this condition increases the risk of overdose and even death.
What Medication-Assisted Treatment Means
Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy. This approach helps patients manage withdrawal symptoms, stabilize brain chemistry, and regain control of daily life. The three main medications for opioid use are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Each works differently to reduce cravings and support long-term treatment.
Why Medications Are Used in Treatment
Opioid use disorder medications work by interacting with the same brain receptors that opioids affect, but in a safer and controlled way. They reduce cravings without producing the same high, making it easier for patients to focus on recovery. This method is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services as an effective treatment option.
The Science Behind MOUD
Medication for opioid use disorder works by targeting the brain’s opioid receptors to reduce cravings, stabilize function, and prevent relapse.
How Opioid Receptors Work
Opioid receptors are proteins in the brain and nervous system that control pain, reward, and addictive behavior. When someone misuses opioids, the receptors become overstimulated, leading to dependence and tolerance. This change in brain chemistry explains why patients experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings when they stop using.
How Medications Affect the Brain
Opioid use disorder medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone interact with these receptors in different ways. Methadone activates the receptors at a steady level, which reduces withdrawal symptoms and stabilizes the patient. Buprenorphine partially activates the receptors, lowering cravings without producing a strong high. Naltrexone blocks the receptors completely, preventing other opioids from creating effects.
Evidence for Medication-Assisted Treatment
Research from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and journals like J Subst Abuse Treat and J Addict Med shows that medication-assisted treatment lowers overdose risk, reduces opioid cravings, and supports recovery. Studies comparing methadone maintenance therapy versus buprenorphine maintenance versus placebo confirm that patients receiving these treatments are more likely to stay in care and avoid relapse.
The Three FDA-Approved Medications
There are three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder that form the foundation of medication-assisted treatment.
Methadone
Methadone is a full opioid agonist used in methadone maintenance treatment. It activates opioid receptors in a controlled way to prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. Methadone is administered in specialized opioid treatment programs under medical supervision. Studies show methadone maintenance therapy lowers overdose risk and supports long-term treatment of opioid use disorder.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that attaches to opioid receptors with less intensity than methadone. It reduces cravings and withdrawal without creating the same level of euphoria. Physicians can prescribe buprenorphine in office-based settings, which expands access to treatment. Options include sublingual tablets, films, and long-acting injection formats. Research comparing buprenorphine maintenance versus placebo confirms its effectiveness in treating opioid dependence.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that blocks opioid receptors completely. It prevents other opioids from producing effects, reducing the chance of relapse. Naltrexone treatment is available as a daily pill or extended-release injectable suspension. It is effective for motivated patients who have already detoxed and is also used in treating alcohol use disorder.
Integrating Behavioral Therapy with MAT
Medication-assisted treatment is most effective when combined with behavioral therapy and counseling.
Why Behavioral Therapy Matters
Behavioral therapy helps patients address the psychological side of opioid use disorder. While medications reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, therapy focuses on changing thought patterns and behaviors linked to drug use. This approach reduces relapse risk and strengthens long-term recovery.
Types of Therapy Used in Treatment
Common therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and motivational interviewing. These methods help patients build coping skills, manage triggers, and set recovery goals. Therapy sessions may also address co-occurring conditions such as alcohol use disorder, depression, or anxiety.
Support from National Agencies
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services recommend combining opioid use disorder medications with therapy. This integrated approach treats both the physical and mental aspects of substance use disorder, providing a more complete treatment option for patients.
MAT in Durham: Local Access and Community Support
Durham has treatment options that make medication-assisted treatment more accessible for patients living with opioid use disorder.
Treatment Options in Durham
Several clinics and recovery centers in Durham provide opioid treatment programs that include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. These programs are designed to reduce cravings, manage withdrawal symptoms, and lower overdose risk. Patients can receive treatment in structured clinical settings or through office-based care where physicians prescribe buprenorphine.
Community Services and Support
Durham also offers behavioral health services that complement medication-assisted treatment. Local counseling programs, support groups, and mental health providers give patients access to therapy and long-term treatment resources. Community organizations work with health and human services to expand access and reduce barriers to care.
Carolina Recovery’s Role
Carolina Recovery helps patients in Durham receive treatment by combining FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy. The center focuses on providing effective treatment that reduces cravings, supports recovery, and lowers the chance of relapse. Patients have access to professional addiction medicine care and community resources that strengthen long-term recovery.
Common Questions About MOUD
Patients often have questions about how medication for opioid use disorder works and what to expect during treatment.
Will Patients Experience Withdrawal Symptoms?
Opioid use disorder medications help reduce withdrawal symptoms, but some patients may feel mild effects as their body adjusts. Methadone and buprenorphine are effective in easing cravings and stabilizing brain function, which lowers the chance of severe opioid withdrawal. Naltrexone is given after detox to avoid triggering withdrawal.
Do These Medications Cause a High?
Methadone and buprenorphine interact with opioid receptors, but when administered at the correct dose, they do not cause the same high as other opioids. Instead, they prevent cravings and allow patients to function normally. Naltrexone blocks opioid effects completely, eliminating the risk of euphoria.
What Is the Difference Between Methadone and Buprenorphine?
Methadone is a full opioid agonist and is usually provided in structured opioid treatment programs. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist and can be prescribed by trained physicians in outpatient settings. Both reduce cravings and withdrawal, but buprenorphine often offers more flexibility in treatment.
Is Naltrexone Safe for Everyone?
Naltrexone treatment works best for patients who have already detoxed and are committed to long-term treatment. It is available as a daily pill or extended-release injectable suspension. While effective, it may not be the right option for patients who cannot complete detox before starting treatment.
Start Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Today!
Our team at Carolina Recovery is ready to help you take the first step toward recovery. With access to FDA-approved medications, counseling, and community support, we provide effective treatment for opioid use disorder in Durham.
Schedule an appointment with us today at (812) 408-8842!
