Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) involves a combination of a medications that targets the brain, and psychosocial interventions (e.g., counseling, skills development) aimed at improving treatment outcomes. Research shows that medications and therapy together may be more successful than either treatment method alone.
Historically, pharmacological treatment for opioid use disorder was referred to as “Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT),” but more recently it has been determined that the more appropriate term is “Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).” PCSS trainings, resources and website will use MOUD going forward.
While PCSS provides trainings on a broad range of substance use disorder treatments, its primary focus is on treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD). Opioids include a class of drugs often prescribed for pain—morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, and hydrocodone—as well as illicit drugs, such as heroin. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications for the treatment of OUD: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
