Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid use Disorder (OUD) and its consequences are a major public health concern due to increased morbidity and mortality. The partial agonist Buprenorphine is a safe and effective treatment for OUD and has been effective for preventing relapse and sustaining remission in patients with history of Opioid Use Disorder. Patients with chronic and persistent mental illness are at a higher risk of psychiatric decompensation due to Opioid use and use Buprenorphine can prevent relapse of mental illness and improve recovery.

Presented by: Dr. Clement Chen

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is characterized by the persistent use of Opioids despite the adverse consequences of their use. The disorder is associated with a range of mental and general medical comorbid disorders and with increased morbidity and mortality. There are well-established underlying genetic and biological factors for OUD. The medications for OUD, which include Methadone, Buprenorphine and Naltrexone significantly improve outcomes. Due to high prevalence of OUD in the United States, there is an urgent need for expanding the use of medications for OUD among health care professionals.

Presented by:
Erin Zerbo, MD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Rutgers NJMS
Director, Northern NJ MAT Center of Excellence