Opioid use treatment

How can I get help?

If you need help finding treatment for opioid use disorder, there are several resources including medication and behavioral health resources:

Washington State Opioid Treatment program guide

Find all of the Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) in the state. OTPs are a behavioral health treatment agency which is licensed by the state and federal government. The programs offers both counseling services and medical services to all clients who attend. It is the only type of outpatient treatment setting where an individual can receive all three types of medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.

Washington Recovery Helpline

Use the Washington Recovery Helpline MOUD locator to search for all forms of MOUD in your area. This locator shows a variety of setting sites for methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone), and naltrexone (Vivitrol).

Call 866-789-1511 to search for medications as well as additional forms of substance use disorder treatment including residential, outpatient, and withdrawal management services.

Department of Health (DOH) Behavioral Health Agencies (BHA) directory

Use the DOH-BHA directory to search for additional forms of substance use disorder treatment including residential, outpatient, and withdrawal management services.

What is medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)?

Medication is the first line of treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). Medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) bind or block the opioid receptors in the brain and help to stabilize the individual from withdrawal symptoms, cravings and balance the brain to assist the individual in their recovery process. Learn more about MOUD.

Benefits of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)

MOUD is an evidence-based treatment that has been proven to support people who choose to reduce or stop their opioid use. MOUD can:

• Reduce the chances of an opioid overdose related death in people who use opioids by 50 percent.
• Reduce a person’s craving and withdrawal symptoms related to their opioid use disorder and increase the likelihood that a person will continue to not use drugs.
• Reduce pregnancy risks and complications.
• Help to stabilize the life of someone with an opioid use disorder.
• Reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission in individuals who use opioids.

Types of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)

There are three types of medication that have been approved for the use of OUD:

• Methadone
• Buprenorphine products (Suboxone or Subutex)
• Naltrexone (Vivitrol)

Harm reduction resources

Harm reduction is an evidenced-based approach to support people who use drugs and provide life-saving tools and information to empower them to live healthy, self-directed, and purpose-filled lives.

Naloxone or Narcan

Naloxone or Narcan is a medication that can help to reverse an opioid overdose.

• Find Naloxone in your community and watch online training about how to use it.
• Washington Friends for Life campaign is an educational resource about naloxone and opioid overdose.
• There is currently a statewide standing order which allows any individual to walk into any pharmacy in Washington State to ask for naloxone, without a prescription that could be paid for by either self-pay and/or insurance.
• Naloxone is now available for sale over the counter.

Syringe services programs

If an individual is injecting and/or smoking an opioid or other substance, a syringe service program can supply them with sterile syringes and/or sterile smoking resources as well as wound care kits which can help reduce their risk of wound abscesses, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and other potential risks. View a directory of drug user health sites and syringe service programs.

It is important that individuals do not use alone in case of an opioid overdose event or accidental substance use poisoning.

• Never Use Alone phone line 800-484-3731.
• The Brave App on the App Store or Google Play

For family members

If you are a loved one of someone who uses opioids, it is important to take care of yourself.

• StopOverdose.org to find Naloxone in your community and how to use it.
• Washington Friends for Life
• Naloxone is available over the counter and as a statewide standing order.
• Helping Families Help – CRAFT (Community Reinforcement Approach to Family Training)
• Al-Anon
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Parents Helping Parents
• Book: Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change
• Center for Motivation and Change