4 Opioid use disorder: Find the help you need Your provider can tell you more about treatment options for OUD. Talking about it is the first step toward recovery. Opioids can help with pain when a provider prescribes them for you. But they have risks. Addiction — or opioid use disorder (OUD) — is one of them. OUD can happen to anyone who takes opioids. It can make you crave opioids and use them even if you don’t need them anymore — even if you know they’re causing problems in your life. Your body can depend on opioids too. You may feel like you need to take more than before to get the same level of pain relief. If you stop taking opioids, you could have withdrawal symptoms. For example, you might: • Feel anxious and achy • Have a hard time sleeping • Feel sick to your stomach Going through withdrawal can be hard. But recovery is possible. Treatment and recovery Are you or someone you know struggling with OUD? There is help. Treatments can help people get back their lives and lower their risk of an overdose. Ways to treat OUD include: • Medicines. Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are some of the medicines for OUD. They can help people stop or use less opioids. Some can help with cravings and withdrawal symptoms. • Counseling combined with medicines. Talk therapy and group therapy are also used to treat OUD. They are often most effective when used in combination with medicines. You don’t always need to go to a treatment center. But some people may need to do that to get better. It helps to have support from your family, a provider, or a support group too. People who relapse and start using opioids again can overdose on a smaller dose than they used to take. Ask your provider about this risk. You can also call customer service at (505) 923-5200 or 1-888-977‑2333 (TTY: 711) to learn more about your options. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Library of Medicine
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