Quick summary
Opioid use disorder is a chronic, treatable condition affecting more than 6.1 million people aged 12 or older, per the FDA. Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone reduce cravings and lower overdose risk, yet fewer than 1 in 5 people receive them. If someone is unresponsive after an overdose, call 911 and give naloxone.
Opioid use disorder is a chronic, treatable medical condition, and effective medications exist. Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone reduce cravings and withdrawal and lower the risk of a fatal overdose. If someone is unresponsive or not breathing, call 911 and give naloxone immediately.
How common is opioid use disorder?
The FDA estimates that more than 6.1 million people aged 12 or older in the United States have an opioid use disorder. SAMHSA's 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 8.9 million people misused opioids in the past year, including 8.6 million who misused prescription pain relievers and 660,000 who used heroin.
Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is often mixed into other drugs without the user's knowledge, which makes any non-prescribed pill or powder especially risky.
Medications that treat opioid use disorder
NIDA reports that three FDA-approved medications help people stop or reduce opioid use by easing withdrawal and cravings without producing the intense high of opioid drugs:
- Methadone is a long-acting opioid medication dispensed through approved opioid treatment programs. It has been used for more than 50 years.
- Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist available as a daily tablet or film and as longer-acting injections or implants.
- Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors entirely. It does not control withdrawal or cravings, and treatment usually starts only after a person has stopped opioids for 7 to 10 days.
A separate medicine, lofexidine, treats the acute symptoms of opioid withdrawal. NIDA notes that medications for opioid use disorder are safe and effective, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding, yet fewer than 1 in 5 people with the condition receive them.
What opioid withdrawal is like
Withdrawal begins hours after the last dose and can include muscle aches, nausea, sweating, anxiety, and insomnia. It is rarely life-threatening, but it is intensely uncomfortable and a common reason people return to use. Because tolerance drops during abstinence, returning to the same dose can cause a fatal overdose.
Do not go through severe withdrawal alone. Medically supervised withdrawal and medication can make the process safer and more tolerable.
How to respond to an overdose
If you suspect an opioid overdose:
- Call 911.
- Try to keep the person awake and breathing, and place them on their side if they are unconscious.
- Give naloxone if you have it, and stay until help arrives.
Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and is available as a nasal spray or injection. FDA-approved nasal sprays can now be bought over the counter without a prescription. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
Finding treatment
Levels of care include medically supervised withdrawal, outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient programs, residential treatment, and medication for opioid use disorder. Search SAMHSA's FindTreatment.gov locator by ZIP code or service type, or call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), free and confidential, 24/7. In West Virginia, see our city guides for opioid treatment and MAT in Charleston and opioid treatment and MAT clinics in Morgantown.
Call or text (800) 653-9376 or use the form below to talk through treatment options.
Recovery is possible, and starting with a single call is a good first step.
City-level guides in this series: Opioid treatment and MAT in Birmingham, Alabama, Opioid treatment and MAT in Anchorage, Alaska, Opioid treatment and MAT in Phoenix, Arizona, Opioid treatment and MAT in Tucson, Arizona, Opioid treatment and MAT in Little Rock, Arkansas, Opioid treatment and MAT in Fresno, California, Opioid treatment and MAT in Los Angeles, California, Opioid treatment and MAT in Sacramento, California, Opioid treatment and MAT in San Diego, California, Opioid treatment and MAT in San Francisco, California, Opioid treatment and MAT in San Jose, California, Opioid treatment and MAT in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Opioid treatment and MAT in Denver, Colorado, Opioid treatment and MAT in Hartford, Connecticut, Opioid treatment and MAT in Washington, District Of Columbia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Opioid treatment and MAT in Jacksonville, Florida, Opioid treatment and MAT in Miami, Florida, Opioid treatment and MAT in Orlando, Florida, Opioid treatment and MAT in Sarasota, Florida, Opioid treatment and MAT in Tampa, Florida, Opioid treatment and MAT in West Palm Beach, Florida, Opioid treatment and MAT in Atlanta, Georgia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Savannah, Georgia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Honolulu, Hawaii, Opioid treatment and MAT in Boise, Idaho, Opioid treatment and MAT in Chicago, Illinois, Opioid treatment and MAT in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Opioid treatment and MAT in Indianapolis, Indiana, Opioid treatment and MAT in Des Moines, Iowa, Opioid treatment and MAT in Wichita, Kansas, Opioid treatment and MAT in Lexington, Kentucky, Opioid treatment and MAT in Louisville, Kentucky, Opioid treatment and MAT in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Opioid treatment and MAT in New Orleans, Louisiana, Opioid treatment and MAT in Baltimore, Maryland, Opioid treatment and MAT in Boston, Massachusetts, Opioid treatment and MAT in Detroit, Michigan, Opioid treatment and MAT in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Opioid treatment and MAT in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Opioid treatment and MAT in Kansas City, Missouri, Opioid treatment and MAT in St. Louis, Missouri, Opioid treatment and MAT in Omaha, Nebraska, Opioid treatment and MAT in Las Vegas, Nevada, Opioid treatment and MAT in Newark, New Jersey, Opioid treatment and MAT in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Opioid treatment and MAT in Buffalo, New York, Opioid treatment and MAT in New York City, New York, Opioid treatment and MAT in Rochester, New York, Opioid treatment and MAT in Charlotte, North Carolina, Opioid treatment and MAT in Durham, North Carolina, Opioid treatment and MAT in Greensboro, North Carolina, Opioid treatment and MAT in Raleigh, North Carolina, Opioid treatment and MAT in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Opioid treatment and MAT in Akron, Ohio, Opioid treatment and MAT in Canton, Ohio, Opioid treatment and MAT in Cincinnati, Ohio, Opioid treatment and MAT in Cleveland, Ohio, Opioid treatment and MAT in Columbus, Ohio, Opioid treatment and MAT in Dayton, Ohio, Opioid treatment and MAT in Toledo, Ohio, Opioid treatment and MAT in Youngstown, Ohio, Opioid treatment and MAT in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Opioid treatment and MAT in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Opioid treatment and MAT in Portland, Oregon, Opioid treatment and MAT in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Opioid treatment and MAT in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Opioid treatment and MAT in Providence, Rhode Island, Opioid treatment and MAT in Charleston, South Carolina, Opioid treatment and MAT in Columbia, South Carolina, Opioid treatment and MAT in Greenville, South Carolina, Opioid treatment and MAT in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Knoxville, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Memphis, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Nashville, Tennessee, Opioid treatment and MAT in Austin, Texas, Opioid treatment and MAT in Dallas, Texas, Opioid treatment and MAT in El Paso, Texas, Opioid treatment and MAT in Fort Worth, Texas, Opioid treatment and MAT in Houston, Texas, Opioid treatment and MAT in San Antonio, Texas, Opioid treatment and MAT in Salt Lake City, Utah, Opioid treatment and MAT in Richmond, Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Seattle, Washington, Opioid treatment and MAT in Spokane, Washington, Opioid treatment and MAT in Beckley, West Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Charleston, West Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Fairmont, West Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Huntington, West Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Morgantown, West Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Parkersburg, West Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Wheeling, West Virginia, Opioid treatment and MAT in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Last updated: Thu Oct 01 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
What medications treat opioid use disorder?
The FDA has approved three medications: buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. A fourth medicine, lofexidine, helps ease acute opioid withdrawal symptoms.
How do I respond to an opioid overdose?
Call 911, try to keep the person awake and breathing, and give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone is an overdose-reversal medicine available as a nasal spray or injection, and FDA-approved nasal sprays are sold over the counter.
Is opioid withdrawal dangerous?
Opioid withdrawal is very uncomfortable but rarely life-threatening by itself. The greater danger is returning to use after a period of abstinence, which lowers tolerance and raises the risk of a fatal overdose.
How many people have opioid use disorder?
The FDA estimates that more than 6.1 million people aged 12 or older have an opioid use disorder. SAMHSA's 2023 survey found that 8.9 million people misused opioids in the past year.
Can I get medication treatment for opioid use disorder?
Yes. NIDA reports that medications for opioid use disorder reduce overdose deaths and are safe, yet fewer than 1 in 5 people with opioid use disorder receive them.