Medications to Treat Opioid or Alcohol Disorders

Medications to treat opioid use disorders are called MOUD. Medications to treat alcohol use disorders are called MAUD. These special medications, partnered with opioid and/or alcohol counseling, can help a person with their recovery. These medications can be used to treat addiction to opioids, heroin, alcohol, or prescription pain medications. No single treatment is right for everyone, but these special medications can help a person’s brain get back to the way it worked before drug use, block the high effects of drugs, and relieve cravings. Although addiction treatment is not simple, the goal of MOUD and MAUD is full recovery, and to help a person live the life they want.

Some people think that taking MOUD or MAUD is just trading one drug for another. This is not true. A person cannot get high from these medications, and they have been proven to be safe and very effective. When given in addition to the help of a therapist, peer support, and support from family and friends, these medications can lead to recovery.  

If you are struggling with addiction, and therapy alone isn’t working for you, talk to your therapist or doctor about your medication options. If you are not in therapy right now, call PerformCare for help setting up an appointment so you can talk about the treatments available to you.

Learn more about MOUD and MAUD:

National Institute on Drug Abuse

U.S. Food and Drug Administration