Glossary

Explore the concept of addiction, its distinction from dependence, and its impact on individuals and society.

Learn about agonist medications, their role in opioid addiction treatment, and how they differ from antagonist and partial agonist medications.

Learn about the Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10), a tool used to evaluate a person's resources and strengths that can support their recovery from addiction.

Learn about Belbuca, a medication used for chronic pain management. Discover its historical context, medical formulations, and more.

Discover Bupe, a slang term for the opioid medication buprenorphine, and its significance in the realm of drug use and addiction treatment.

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which activates the same receptors as other opioids but with less intensity, and is used in opioid addiction treatment.

Carfentanil is a potent synthetic opioid developed as a tranquilizer for large animals. It is not approved for human use but has been found in street drugs.

Understand the concept of the ceiling effect in opioid addiction treatment and its implications for medications like buprenorphine.

Codeine is a naturally occurring opiate commonly used to treat mild to moderate pain and as a cough suppressant. It is a less potent analgesic than morphine.

Cravings are intense urges or desires to use a substance, often triggered by cues associated with the substance, such as specific environments, people, or emotions.

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is a United States federal law enforcement agency that combats drug trafficking and distribution, as well as the diversion of prescription medications.

Learn about the concept of dependence, its distinction from addiction, and its relevance in opioid addiction treatment and recovery.

Detox is the process of removing a substance and its associated toxins from the body, often as the first step in the treatment of substance use disorders.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is responsible for approving and regulating medications used in MAT for OUD, as well as overseeing the safety and efficacy of these treatments.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. It is used for severe pain, chronic pain management, and anesthesia.

Learn about fentanyl test strips, their role in harm reduction efforts, and how they can help prevent opioid overdoses.

Explore Goofball, a street name for the dangerous combination of methamphetamine and opioids, and its impact on drug culture and addiction.

Half-life is a term used in pharmacology to describe the time it takes for the concentration of a substance to decrease by half in the body or a given environment.

Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to minimize the negative consequences of substance use and promote safer practices without requiring abstinence.

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine known for its euphoric effects and is commonly abused recreationally.

Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from codeine and is used to treat moderate to severe pain and cough.

Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine and is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is more potent, but has a shorter duration.

Discover the role of intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) in the treatment of substance use disorders, offering a flexible and less restrictive approach to care.

Learn about intravenous drug use (IVDU), its risks, and harm reduction strategies to minimize the potential negative consequences.

Learn about the induction phase of opioid addiction treatment, its purpose, and how it is managed to avoid complications.

Lofexidine is a non-opioid medication used to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms by reducing the release of norepinephrine.

Learn about Lucemyra, a medication used to manage the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Discover its historical context, medical formulations, and more.

MAT (medications for addiction treatment) aims to address the whole-person approach to recovery by treating the physical, psychological, and social aspects of addiction.

MOUD (medications for opioid use disorder) refers to the use of medications specifically approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).

Meperidine is a synthetic opioid that is structurally distinct from other opioids. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain, but its use has decreased over time.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid used primarily in the treatment of opioid addiction, as it helps to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.

Morphine is an opiate alkaloid extracted from the opium poppy plant and is one of the most potent and commonly prescribed opioids for moderate to severe pain.

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It is an essential emergency medication in overdose situations.

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids and is used to treat OUD by preventing relapse after detoxification.

Learn about Narcan, a brand name for the opioid medication naloxone, and its significance in the realm of drug use and addiction treatment.

OUD (opioid use disorder) is a medical condition characterized by a problematic pattern of opioid use, leading to significant impairment or distress.

Understand the opioid epidemic and the opioid overdose crisis, their causes, and the efforts made to address these public health emergencies.

Opioids are a class of drugs that include both natural and synthetic substances derived from opium, a substance found in the opium poppy plant.

Learn about Oranges, a slang term for opioid addiction treatment medications containing buprenorphine, and its connection to substance use and recovery.

Overdose occurs when an individual consumes a toxic or lethal amount of a substance, leading to severe adverse effects or death. Learn more here.

Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from thebaine, an opium alkaloid, and is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Oxymorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from thebaine and is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is more potent than morphine but has a shorter duration.

Learn about the term PWID, used to humanize and destigmatize people who inject drugs, promoting a more empathetic approach.

Understand the importance of using respectful language, like people who use drugs (PWUD), to destigmatize and humanize people who use drugs.

Discover the role of partial agonists in opioid addiction treatment and how they contribute to safer and more effective therapies.

Physical dependence is a physiological state in which the body relies on a substance to function normally and can occur with regular use of a substance.

Learn about polysubstance use, its complications in addiction treatment, and the importance of addressing it to ensure effective care.

Understand precipitated withdrawal, its causes, symptoms, and how it can be avoided during opioid addiction treatment.

Probuphine is a subdermal implant that delivers a continuous low dose of buprenorphine over a six-month period and is used for the maintenance treatment of OUD.

Psychological dependence can develop independently of physical dependence and is an important component of substance use disorders. Learn more here.

Explore the concept of recovery in the context of opioid addiction treatment and the various paths individuals take towards healing.

Learn about the role of rehabilitation in treating substance use disorders, including various treatment settings, levels of care, and approaches.

Relapse refers to the return to active substance use after a period of abstinence or reduced use and is a common occurrence in the recovery process.

SAMHSA is a U.S. government agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.

Explore the role of syringe service programs (SSPs) in reducing harm and promoting health among people who inject drugs.

Uncover Speedball, a slang term for the risky mix of cocaine and opioids, and its relationship to substance use, addiction, and overdose.

Discover the impact of stigma on individuals with opioid use disorder and the importance of using respectful, non-stigmatizing language.

Sublocade is an extended-release injectable form of buprenorphine used to treat OUD which helps manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Suboxone is a combination medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used as a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD).

Explore Subs, a common street name for the medication Suboxone, used in opioid addiction treatment, and its role in drug culture and recovery.

Subutex is a brand name for the medication buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid agonist used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and manage chronic pain.

Tapentadol is a centrally acting atypical opioid analgesic with dual mechanisms of action: mu-opioid receptor agonism and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition.

Discover the concept of tapering off opioids, its purpose, and how it is used in the context of opioid addiction treatment.

Tolerance can develop with regular use of a substance and is a significant factor in the development of substance use disorders. Learn more here.

Tramadol is a synthetic atypical opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain and has a lower risk of dependence compared to other opioids.

Vivitrol is an injectable, extended-release formulation of naltrexone used to treat opioid use disorder by preventing relapse after detoxification.

Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include anxiety, irritability, sweating, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and more.

Learn about xylazine, a veterinary drug used as a sedative and muscle relaxant in animals, and its illicit use among humans. Discover its historical context and more.

Zubsolv is a combination medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used used as a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD).