The Problem
In 2023, 213 people in Iowa died from accidental opioid overdoses. About 86% of them had at least one chance where someone could have helped before the overdose happened.
The good news? There are treatments that can prevent deaths, and most healthcare providers can help. One of the most effective treatments is called medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
The facts
What is medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)?
Doctors use MOUD to treat people with opioid use disorder (OUD).
There are three FDA-approved medications:
1. Buprenorphine or Buprenorphine/Naloxone (such as Suboxone, Subutex, or Sublocade)
- Can be prescribed by Drug Enforcement Administration-licensed providers
- Does not usually require daily clinic visits
- Taken under the tongue or given as a shot
2. Methadone
- Only available through special opioid treatment programs
- Patients must go every day at first, before they can take doses at home
3. Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
- Any healthcare provider can prescribe it
- Given as a monthly shot
These medications help people stop using opioids. They work even better when combined with counseling, which teaches healthy ways to manage stress and everyday challenges.
Benefits of medication for opioid use disorder
Alosa Health and other experts say buprenorphine is one of the most effective and life-saving treatments that a provider can offer.
Here is what it can do:
- Reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Lower the risk of relapse and overdose
- Help patients stay in treatment longer
- Support long-term recovery and better health
Buprenorphine Quick Start Guide
Misconceptions about medication for opioid use disorder
Myth | Truth |
|---|---|
| Some people believe buprenorphine is more dangerous than other long-term health treatments - but that is not true. | In fact, using buprenorphine is safer than prescribing strong painkillers like oxycodone or morphine. It is also easier to manage than some other treatments, like adjusting insulin for diabetes. |
| Some people believe using methadone or buprenorphine is just replacing one addiction with another - but that is not true. | Addiction means using a drug even when it causes harm. However, when people take methadone or buprenorphine as prescribed, these medications help them live better and stay healthier. That's not addiction. Having a physical dependence (needing the medicine to feel okay) is not the same thing as being addicted. |
| Some people believe detoxing, or stopping opioids, is the best way to treat addiction - but that is not true. | Detox alone does not work well for treating opioid addiction. It can even make things worse by raising the risk of overdose - because after detox, their body cannot handle the same amount of drugs, a person loses their tolerance. |
| Some people believe prescribing buprenorphine takes too much time - but that is not true. | Most healthcare providers can prescribe buprenorphine. It does not require special therapy. Patients can start the medication at home, and it is effective. |
| Some people believe that if someone uses drugs again, it means their treatment failed - but that is not true. | Returning to use can be part of recovery for some people. Changing behavior - especially with a disease like addiction - can be difficult. Setbacks happen, but they do not mean treatment is not working. The main goals of treatment for OUD are to prevent overdose and improve daily life and well-being. When someone returns to use, it is important to respond with compassion. Check in on their goals, adjust their treatment plan, and help them keep moving forward - do not give up on them. |
The evidence
Buprenorphine prescriptions in Iowa have gone up from 2015 to 2024, showing more providers are using it to treat patients with OUD.
What other doctors are saying
| Dr. Sarah Wakeman said that buprenorphine helps people get better and seeing that happen is one of the best parts of being a healthcare provider. 2,7 | Dr. Matthew Hahn talked about a patient who had used drugs for 10 years. After starting Suboxone, the patient got a job and felt eager about life again.6 | Dr. Mina Tanaka said that giving people the medicine for OUD can stop overdoses. If healthcare providers can help save lives, they should do it.6 |
Frequently asked questions
Question: How do I know which patients might need MOUD?
Answer: Use a screening tool - like the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) process - to ask about substance use, which is billable and reimbursable. Tools like the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) help you start conversations and find the right support.
Question: Are there risks to MOUD?
Answer: Like any treatment, there can be side effects. However, providers can adjust the medication to meet each patient's needs.
Key points
- MOUD is a proven, life-saving treatment
- Prescribing MOUD reduces overdose deaths
- Patients on MOUD have better long-term outcomes
Next steps
- Want to help? Start your training today! Visit the Providers Clinical Support System website to learn how to become a MOUD provider.
- Already prescribing MOUD? Go to the Your Life Iowa provider locator page to register and help patients find you.