medication for opioid use disorder medicine Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/science/medication-for-opioid-use-disorder Share Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/science/medication-for-opioid-use-disorder Also known as: MOUD Written by Frannie Comstock Frannie Comstock is a writer based in Chicago. Frannie Comstock Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jun 13, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), intervention used in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), a condition characterized by addiction to opioid drugs. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) can reduce opioid use and cravings, improve social functioning, and reduce the risk of death from opioid overdose. Drugs used as MOUD include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. More than 16 million people worldwide are estimated to be affected by OUD; however, only about 10 percent of that population receives MOUD. In the 1960s, methadone was found to be an effective treatment for opioid dependence (later known as OUD). In 1966, ...(100 of 430 words)

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