‘Focus on other parts of your recovery.’ How medicines can help addiction recovery

Medicines have aided substance use disorder treatment for decades.

It was first limited to methadone, a long-acting opioid agonist, which was introduced in the 1960s. But today, medicine is becoming more common to supplement recovery from substance use disorder.

Suboxone is a brand-name prescription drug, that combines buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist medication, which reverses the deadly effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is more common referred to as Narcan, its brand name. Suboxone was approved for treatment of narcotic addiction in 2002 by the Food and Drug Administration.

Sublocade, which contains only buprenorphone, is another medicine to treat opioid use disorder. It was approved by the FDA in 2017. Patients take it initially orally and then it can be injected once every 30 days.

Vivitrol can also be taken by injection and lasts 30 days. The medicine, naltrexone, helps reduce cravings and feelings of euphoria. Vivitrol requires opioid abstinence before use.

Aaron Brown, an assistant professor at Western Carolina University who researches improving access to evidence-based practices for addictions in rural communities, said some consider vivitrol “liquid handcuffs,” because it removes the ability to make free choices. If someone uses opioids while taking vivitrol, it won’t have any effect.

Brown said ultimately, he has no preference of what medicine-based treatment is better.

“We need all those tools at our disposal,” Brown said.

Medicines can help those with substance use disorder concentrate on other aspects of recovery, he said.

“The thing with medication is they can help to make that a little easier to where if you’re not having those cravings and you’re not in withdrawal, it frees up your cognitive load to be able to focus on other parts of your recovery,” Brown said.