Medications for Addiction Treatment
Comprehensive addiction treatment incorporates many different tools and strategies to help support an individual’s long-term recovery. Medications for addiction treatment are often one aspect of a comprehensive addiction care program, and will often be used alongside behavioral therapy and counseling.
Understanding what medications may be used during addiction treatment and how they can help can be important before entering recovery.
The Benefits of Medications for Addiction Treatment
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) calls the use of medications plus counseling a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.1
Medications for addiction treatment are primarily used for treating those with an opioid use disorder but may also be used to treat alcohol use disorder. Medications can be used in every phase of treating these disorders, from detox and beyond to support a person throughout their long-term recovery.
Maintenance medications may be used:
- To ease cravings.
- Support abstinence from drug use.
- Moderate activity in damaged brain pathways.
Desert Hope offers Medications for addiction treatment to assist you in your recovery from addiction.
Medications provided at Desert Hope may vary according to a patient’s medical history and unique needs. Medications given may change as the patient’s needs change.
What Are Medications for Addiction Treatment?
The medications that may be used during addiction treatment will vary greatly depending on what type of substance use disorder one is receiving treatment for. Some medications may be used during detox, while others may be used to help individuals maintain recovery. It’s important to speak with your doctors and treatment team to determine what medications are being prescribed during rehab and what they are being prescribed for.
Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder:
There are three FDA-approved prescription medications that people may take to ease withdrawal symptoms and help overcome opioid dependency and addiction:1,2,3
- Methadone—This drug is an opioid but does not produce a euphoric high when used correctly. Methadone can help with the symptoms of withdrawal and may be used long-term to prevent relapse.
- Buprenorphine—Buprenorphine also produces opioid effects to help with cravings and withdrawal; however, unlike methadone, it has a ceiling, which means that at a certain dose it will no longer produce effects. This decreases the misuse potential and makes it a preferred choice for many treatment providers. Suboxone, a popular MAT medication, combines buprenorphine with naloxone (the active ingredient in the opioid overdose medication naloxone) to prevent misuse.
- Naltrexone—This medication is unlike methadone and buprenorphine in that instead of producing opioid effects, it blocks them. Should a person relapse on opioids, they will not get high if they’ve been taking naltrexone as directed.
These medications may be safely taken for weeks, months, or years.1 Evidence shows that people who receive longer-term treatment with medication for OUD have better treatment outcomes. They are also less likely to die from overdose if they return to opioid use while on medication.6
Other benefits for using medications to treat OUD include:1,4
- Reducing risk of relapse during during opioid withdrawal and helping patients stay in treatment.
- Helping individuals get and stay employed.
- Decreasing illicit drug use and other criminal activity.
- Improving birth outcomes among pregnant women.
Medications to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder:
Medications used in the treatment of alcohol dependence and addiction include the following:1,5
- Acamprosate—This drug does not help with withdrawal but can be used for this in recovery for alcoholism. Acamprosate helps counteract changes in the brain related to heavy drinking to curb cravings and urges to drink.
- Disulfiram—This medication which can be found under the brand name Antabuse, discourages drinking by making it very unpleasant. Someone on disulfiram who drinks alcohol may experience side effects like headache, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, and chest pains.
- Naltrexone—This medication does double-duty as an opioid and alcohol dependency medication. It can also block the euphoric effects of alcohol in addition to those of opioids.
These medications cannot be initiated until after withdrawal is complete, but other medications such as benzodiazepines may be used to treat symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal.1
Alcohol & Addiction Treatment in Las Vegas, NV
For those seeking addiction treatment, it may be important to them to know what treatment will look like. At Desert Hope, our treatment tracks are tailored to a patient’s unique needs, and may involved a combination of behavioral therapy, counseling, and medications for addiction treatment. Our evidence-based programs provide patients with various levels of care, including:
If you’re searching for world-class addiction treatment in Las Vegas, Desert Hope can provide you with care. Don’t delay, call us now at or visit our admissions page to get started.