Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Substance use disorders can happen to anyone. Recovery is possible.
If you or someone you know has an opioid use disorder, there are medications to help you recover.
There are three medications (Buprenorphine, Methadone, Naltrexone) approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). These medications are safe to use for months, years, or even a lifetime.
Central District Health offers buprenorphine, an effective treatment for opioid use disorder.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid medication that binds to the areas in the brain that opioids act on but does not completely activate them. It produces effects such as euphoria or respiratory depression at low to moderate doses. Buprenorphine has a “ceiling effect,” which means that, above a certain dose, individuals stop feeling its opioid effects. Individuals who are taking a prescribed dose of buprenorphine that is right for them typically feel normal, can continue to work, and usually can operate machinery like driving a car.
In summary, Buprenorphine:
- Suppresses and reduces cravings for opioids
- Can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare practitioner (MD, DO, NP, PA)
- If taken as directed, it is safe and effective, and overdose is highly unlikely
- Is safe for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
Our CDH providers have been trained and can prescribe buprenorphine. Contact our clinic to schedule a new patient appointment for MAT services: 208-327-7400
Carry Naloxone
Naloxone can reverse overdose and prevent death. You can purchase brand name naloxone, Narcan, over the counter at any retail pharmacy nationwide, be prescribed naloxone by a healthcare practitioner, or request naloxone free from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
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