User:Mr. Ibrahem/Opioid agonist therapy

Opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is a treatment where opioid agonists are prescribed to people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Use decreases withdrawal, cravings, risks of HIV/AIDS, and death. Generally it is used together with counselling. Benefits also occur in a prison population. Opioid detoxication alone is not generally recommended.

Most commonly used options are methadone and buprenorphine (including buprenorphine/naloxone). They are generally effective for 24 to 36 hours per dose and result in little euphoria. Full onset can take up to 5 days. Long acting formulations of buprenorphine also exist. Less commonly used options include slow release morphine.

Side effects may include constipation, sleepiness, and sweating. Occasionally overdose or drug diversion may occur. These risks tend to be greater with methadone. Long-term use is generally safe, with recommendations varying from years to indefinitely.

Opioid agonist therapy came into medical use in Canada in 1959. Rates of use vary widely, as of 2020, from around half of those with OUD in Europe to infrequent in Asia and Africa. Both agents are on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. In Canada the costs are funded by the provincial governments. Societal benefits include a decrease in drug-related crime.