Treating Opioid Addiction: New Brochures for Consumers

SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment recently released three educational brochures for patients on the use of medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Two focus on specific medications—buprenorphine and naltrexone.

The other brochure contains general information for families and friends.

Facts

Each brochure contains sections called “Addiction: What’s True and What’s Not,” in addition to facts about buprenorphine and naltrexone in the respective brochures.

For example, some people may think that they are just replacing one addictive drug with another. In truth, medication-assisted treatment provides a safe, controlled level of medication to overcome the use of a problem opioid.

The brochures focusing on the medications contain warnings about how to use them, as well as information on side effects. For instance, patients are warned against using other kinds of substances and medications while on buprenorphine or naltrexone because serious side effects and even death can occur.

Patients also are encouraged to combine medication with counseling and support from family and friends.

Ordering Information

All three publications are available from SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727).

For Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction: Facts for Families and Friends, request publication number SMA09-4443.

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For The Facts about Naltrexone for Treatment of Opioid Addiction, request SMA09-4444.

For The Facts about Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Addiction, request SMA09-4442.

For more information, visit SAMHSA’s Knowledge Application Program Web site.