AKA: OUD
A medical diagnosis for problematic use of opioids (such as prescription painkillers, heroin, or fentanyl) that causes significant impairment or distress.
In the context of addiction treatment:
Commonly treated with medications (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone), counseling, and harm reduction strategies.
What to know:
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OUD greatly increases overdose risk, but effective treatments exist.
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Recovery is possible even after many years of use.