Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment (MOUD)

What is Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)?

OUD is a chronic and treatable mental health condition that involves the repeated use of opioids that leads to serious impairment or distress. OUD may cause relationship and health problems as well as difficulties at work, school, or home. Symptoms of OUD include not being able to control or reduce opioid use, cravings and use of larger amounts of opioids over time.

Key Facts

  • MOUD combines medications and therapy to help treat SUDs. The goal of MOUD is full recovery from an addiction.1-4
  • MOUD is commonly used for the treatment of opioid use disorder, including heroin. MAT may also be used to treat alcohol use disorder.1-4
  • MOUD may help reduce cravings and prevent withdrawal symptoms.1-4
  • Medications are available in a variety of forms. These include tablets, liquids, and injections.1-4
  • MOUD has been shown to increase an individual’s ability to maintain a job. MOUD may also increase the chances of staying in treatment.1-4
  1. Connery HS. Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 2015 Mar;23(2):63-75. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health); 2015 Mar. DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000075.
  2. Mattick RP, Breen C, Kimber J, Davoli M. Methadone maintenance therapy versus no opioid replacement therapy for opioid dependence. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2009 Jul 8. Wiley; 2009 Jul 8. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd002209.pub2.
  3. Kampman K, Jarvis M. American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) National Practice Guideline for the Use of Medications in the Treatment of Addiction Involving Opioid Use. Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2015 Sep;9(5):358-367. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health); 2015 Sep. DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000166.
  4. Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. Adolescent Health. 2020 Mar 26;:439-441. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2020 Mar 26. DOI: 10.1542/9781610024310-part09-ch31; ISBN: 9781610024310.