Opioid addiction is a chronic disease, like heart disease or diabetes. A chronic disease is a medical condition for life. It cannot be cured, but it can be managed. However, a person with addiction can have a healthy, productive life with treatment.
Get help now
If you or someone you know needs help right now, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline.
This is a free, 24-hour, confidential treatment referral and information service available in English & Spanish.
What to look for in a treatment program
The Surgeon General’s Office recommends treatment programs should have:
- Personalized diagnosis, assessment, and treatment planning. One size does not fit all and treatments should be tailored to you and your family.
- Long-term disease management. Addiction is a chronic disease of the brain with the potential for both recovery and recurrence. Long-term outpatient care is the key to recovery.
- Access to FDA-approved medications.
- Effective behavioral interventions delivered by trained professionals.
- Coordinated care for other/co-occurring diseases and disorders.
- Recovery support services. Example include mutual aid groups, peer support specialists, and community services that can provide continuing emotional and practical support for recovery.
What treatment programs provide
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
MAT is an addiction treatment that includes the use of medication along with counseling and behavioral therapy. It is important you work with a healthcare provider to develop the best treatment plan for you.
Counseling and behavioral therapies
Counseling for opioid abuse and addiction can help you:
- Change attitudes and behaviors related to drug use.
- Build healthy life skills.
- Stick with other forms of treatment, such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
- Get referrals to other resources.
Behavioral therapies can help you:
- Modify attitudes and behaviors related to drug use.
- Handle stressful situations and various triggers that might cause another relapse.
- Enhance the effectiveness of medications and help people remain in treatment longer.
Medications used to treat opioid addiction
Methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone are medications approved to treat opioid addiction.
Methadone and Buprenorphine
These medications can decrease withdrawal symptoms and cravings. They work by acting on the same targets in the brain as other opioids, but they do not make you feel high. Some people worry that if they take methadone or buprenorphine, it means that they are substituting one addiction for another. This is not true. It’s important to remember these medicines are a treatment. They restore balance to the parts of the brain affected by addiction. This allows your brain to heal while you work toward recovery.
Similar to taking medications for other chronic diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure, it is likely these medications will be necessary long-term (can range from years to a lifetime).
- Methadone is an opioid. It is provided at a dose that helps stabilize the brain without causing a “high.” It is taken by mouth, usually as a liquid, and is provided through a specialized treatment center called an “opioid treatment program (OTP).”
- Buprenorphine (e.g. Suboxone®) has partial activity of an opioid. It is provided at a dose that helps stabilize the brain without causing a “high.” Buprenorphine is usually taken dissolved under the tongue and can be prescribed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician-assistant who has completed additional training and is “waivered.”
Naltrexone (e.g. Vivitrol®)
Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids. It is taken when someone has completely stopped opioids to help prevent use. It can be taken by mouth daily or as a monthly injection.
How do I discard unused or expired medications?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed the following guidance on how to discard unused or expired medications.
- Drug take back sites are the best way to dispose of most types of old, unused, unwanted or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) in a safe and environmentally protective way.
- If there is no drug take-back site in your area, you can look at the FDA flush list. If your medication is listed on the FDA flush list and if you do not use a septic tank, you can flush these medicines down the toilet.
- If your medication is not listed or you use a septic tank, you should discard the medicine in the trash by:
- Mixing the medicines (liquid or pills; do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds.
- Placing the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.
- Removing all personal information on the prescription label of empty medicine bottles or medicine packaging, then trash or recycle the empty bottle or packaging as appropriate.
- Throwing away the container in your trash at home.
National Drug Take Back Day is held twice a year in both April and October. To participate, look for a collection site near you. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has an interactive map to help you find a nearby collection site. Enter your zip code and adjust the distance. Most collection bins are located indoors and accessible during normal business hours.
What role does nutrition play in recovery?
Good nutrition plays an important role in recovery and building health. People in recovery have, and may always have, special nutritional needs. Living with addiction can cause physical harm to the body, which can sometimes have permanent effects. With proper support, the body can recover and be well again. Nutritionists believe that food is medicine and it has the power to heal one meal at a time.
Watch our video about nutritious eating and recovery to learn more.
Not every meal needs to be perfect. You can eat these foods over the course of a week – be flexible and do the best you can. A combination of foods, over time, can provide you with the nutrition you need.
Vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids
Vitamins A, C and E
Vitamins A, C and E help lower harmful substances in our bodies called free radicals. Free radicals cause damage, illness and aging in our bodies. These vitamins play an important role in our immune and nervous systems by helping us cope with stress and maintain our energy levels.
- Vitamin A is found in dark green, leafy vegetables (spinach/dark lettuce/ kale) or orange fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, and melon.
- Vitamin C found in citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries and 100% fruit juice are important for the skin, especially in our mouth and gums.
- Vitamin E is found in sunflower oil/seeds, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, green vegetables like spinach, avocado and soybean oil (in many foods like salad dressing, but take care not to overuse.
B-vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids
B-vitamins increase energy by helping you use the carbohydrates, protein and fat that you eat. B-vitamins can also help the brain function and rebuild neurotransmitters (that send signals all over the brain).
- B-Vitamins are found in meat, fish, poultry, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds, and some dairy products.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats we need to eat. Research has shown that they can help reduce heart disease and improve conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, Omega-3 fatty acids help the brain use the hormone serotonin and may improve mood fluctuations.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids are found in most seafood (salmon, tuna, sardines), walnuts, chia or ground flax seeds, leafy vegetables, grass-fed meat, plant oils and dietary supplements (like fish oil).
Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day
Being in recovery, treatment court or therapy often means a busy schedule. Sometimes, it can be tough to keep up with it all, but nutrition can help. Eating regularly during the day helps stabilize blood sugar levels and provides energy to think and do tasks. Recommendations for people in recovery are to eat about every 3-4 hours (for example, eating an omelet at 8 a.m. followed by an apple and yogurt at 11 a.m.)
A well-balanced breakfast boosts metabolism and mental and physical energy while decreasing the risk of late-day/evening snacking. It is also important to include a source of protein at every meal and snack. This maintains a normal level of fullness and helps to stabilize mood. Protein is found in nuts/seeds, eggs, dairy, meat, soy, beans, legumes, vegetables and some grains.
Recovery
- SAMHSA. (2020). Medication and counseling treatment.
- US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Office of the Surgeon General. (2018). Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids.
Nutrition
- Achieve Medical Center. (2021, Jan 7). The Importance Of Good Nutrition For Mental And Physical Health.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Nutrition Source.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2018, May). Omega-3 supplements: In depth. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health.
- Office of Dietary Supplements. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health.
- Vitamin A fact sheet for consumers (2021, Jan 14)
- Vitamin E fact sheet for consumers (2020, Mar 22)
- FoodData Central. (2019, Dec 16). Oil, soybean. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Reviewed in 2025