MEDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF OPIOID USE DISORDER
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) means a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms associated with a problematic pattern of opioid use that continues despite clinically significant impairment or distress within a 12-month period.
Opioid Use Disorder treatment means the dispensing of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), along with the provision of a range of medical and behavioral health services, as clinically necessary and based on an individualized assessment and a mutually agreed-upon care plan, to an individual to alleviate the combination of adverse medical, psychological, or physical effects associated with an OUD.
The goal of the Centers’ Medication for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Program is to provide an individualized enhanced medical service for persons with opioid use disorder. Patients with opioid use disorder have the option to receive:
- withdrawal management,
- methadone or buprenorphine continuous medication treatment for varying lengths of time; or
- if receiving methadone or buprenorphine continuous medication treatment, to provide medically supervised withdrawal management from continuous medication treatment.
The goal of treatment is to improve your physical, mental health and overall social functioning.
Medications for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Naltrexone/Vivitrol
Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist, a medication that is approved by the FDA to be taken by mouth to treat opioid use disorder. Methadone continuous medication treatment has been available in the United States and around the world for 50 years. It has been proven to be safe and effective. People who remain in methadone treatment are less likely to die of overdose than people who continue to use heroin and other illicit opioids and are not in treatment.
Taken as a tablet, or oral solution, a single dose of methadone can last 24-36 hours, although it varies from person to person, depending on body weight and the severity of the opioid use disorder.
When taken daily, methadone can relieve opioid cravings, decrease withdrawal symptoms, promote abstinence from other substances and help people function in their daily lives.
The most common side effects of methadone include sleepiness, constipation, vomiting, headache, nausea, and stomach pain.
Consuming alcohol while taking buprenorphine or methadone can increase the risk of breathing difficulties and overdose.
Methadone is one component of a comprehensive treatment plan, which includes counseling and other behavioral health therapies to provide patients with a whole-person approach.
We dispense methadone under the supervision of our Medical Directors.
After a period of stability (based on progress and proven, consistent compliance with the medication dosage), patients may be allowed to take methadone at home between program visits. At the start of treatment, you will come to the Program six days a week to take your medication. Typically, on Saturday, you will get one methadone dose to take home with you to drink on Sunday.
The length of time a person receives methadone treatment varies. Patients must work with our practitioner to gradually reduce methadone dosage to prevent withdrawal.
Methadone is safe and effective, when taken as prescribed. Methadone medication is specifically tailored for the individual patient (and doses are often adjusted and readjusted) and is never to be shared with or given to others.
Patients will need to share their complete health history with our health providers to ensure the safe use of the medication.
Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women and Methadone
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can safely take methadone. Comprehensive methadone continuous medication treatment should include prenatal care to reduce the risks of complications during pregnancy and at birth.
Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone)
Buprenorphine belongs to a class of drugs called “partial opioid agonists”—substances that activate the brain’s opioid receptors but to a lesser degree than full agonists like methadone. At a certain level, buprenorphine provides comfort but reaches a plateau in terms of increasing intoxication. This ceiling effect helps protect against addictive euphoria and reduces the risk of misuse, dangerous side effects and overdose. Naloxone, the other drug in the combination product buprenorphine/naloxone, is an “opioid antagonist”—it blocks the activation of opioid receptors. Also known as Narcan®, naloxone is most used as a stand-alone medication to reverse opioid overdoses.
We dispense buprenorphine daily as a tablet under the supervision of our Medical Directors.
After a period of stability (based on progress and proven, consistent compliance with the medication dosage), patients may be allowed to take buprenorphine at home between program visits.
The length of time a person receives buprenorphine treatment varies.
The most common side effects associated with buprenorphine/naloxone are constipation, chills, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, flushing, headache, insomnia, nausea, weakness, and sweating.
Naltrexone/Vivitrol
Naltrexone is a non-addictive medication that, like naloxone, acts as an “opioid antagonist,” meaning it prevents the euphoric high that individuals normally experience when taking opioids. Given most often as an extended-release injection once a month and sold under the brand Vivitrol®, naltrexone has been shown to decrease opioid cravings, reduce the risk of relapse and overdose, and help people stay engaged in addiction treatment programming.
Extended-release naltrexone (Vivitrol) is an opioid antagonist, meaning it prevents opioid drugs from binding to their receptors in the brain, so that the drugs cannot produce intoxication. In other words, you can’t “get high.” Vivitrol is given as an injection once a month. It has been shown to decrease craving, reduce relapse, and help people stay in treatment. Vivitrol is non-addictive and has no abuse potential. In rare cases, attempts to override the effect of the drug by taking high doses of opioids have led to overdose and even death, so precautions need to be taken when using this medication.
What to Expect
- Stabilization is the first step. When you first arrive, you’ll probably be feeling sick. Our clinical and nursing team will be there to get you quick and safe Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). You’ll be assigned a Primary Counselor to be your guide, supporting you in your recovery journey.
- Patients in our MOUD program are expected to do the following:
- Complete your full recommended course of treatment, which can include intensive outpatient care, outpatient care, extended care
- Take medications as prescribed and follow take home guidelines
- Attend your scheduled appointments
- Participate in urine or oral drug testing
- Engage family members and other support persons in your recovery process
- Participate in individual therapy, group therapy, or both
HIV Prevention through Substance Abuse Treatment
We recognize the dramatic relationship between substance use and HIV transmission. We teach patients about the hazards of high-risk behavior, risk reduction, and emphasize the importance of practicing safe behaviors such as HIV prevention methods and AIDS testing.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
- For admission, you must provide two forms of Personal ID (one w/photo) and be at least 18 years of age.
- If you are currently in treatment for substance use disorder, we will need your records from your program.
Paying for treatment
- Accepted insurance: Medicaid and Medicare
- Self-pay/ sliding fee scale
- Individuals may be eligible for the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) publicly funded services. Individuals’ household income shall be at or below 350% of Federal poverty level to be eligible and must provide proof of income at the time of intake.
DOSING HOURS AT THE NEW BRUNSWICK LOCATION
320 Suydam Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-246-4025
MON 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
TUE 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WED 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
THU 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
FRI 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
SAT 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM
SUN CLOSED
DOSING HOURS AT THE MOUNT HOLLY LOCATION
605 High Street
Mount Holly, New Jersey 08060
609-267-3610
MON 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
TUE 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
WED 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
THU 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
FRI 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
SAT 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM
SUN CLOSED
Guest Medication Program
Patients from other methadone clinics are also welcome to our Guest Medication service. Persons receiving methadone treatment under the supervision of another clinic may arrange for guest medication at our facility for up to fourteen (14) days at a time. Guest medication starts with an initial fee of just $35 initial fee and $15 in cash per day thereafter.
Medication visits cannot be arranged by patients; all guest medication arrangements must be coordinated by staff from a patient’s home clinic through contact with our Treatment Team.