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Short on Time? Medical Treatments for Opioid Use Disorder Explained

  • What is opioid use disorder? Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a treatable brain disease affecting millions of Americans, contributing to around 80,000 preventable deaths each year and costing the healthcare system $2.7 trillion annually.1,2
  • What are medications for opioid use disorder? Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. Buprenorphine and naltrexone are offered in extended-release formulations, also known as long-acting treatments. These medications help treat OUD by reducing cravings, preventing relapse, and supporting long-term recovery. They do not substitute one opioid for another.4,5,6,7,8
  • Why is OUD treatment in the criminal justice system significant? Nearly one-fifth of the justice-involved population meets the criteria for OUD, yet 42% of facilities lack access to MOUD.12 Deathly overdose risk is as much as 40x higher in the two weeks post-release, representing a critical window for care.13

Understanding Opioid Use Disorder: A Chronic, Treatable Brain Disease 

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a treatable brain disease that affects over 4.8 million people in the U.S.3 Opioid misuse has a big impact on the healthcare system, driving costs equal to almost 10% of America’s GDP and contributing to around 80,000 preventable deaths each year.1,2 

8.9M

Individuals Misusing Annually2

4.8M

Individuals Diagnosed3

$2.7T

Total Cost of OUD in 20241

Leading Cause of Death 

For 18-452 Year-olds

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder4,5,6,7,8

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treat the disease, allowing the brain to heal. They do not substitute one opioid for another.

There are several different types of MOUD, including buprenorphine (both daily and extended-release), methadone, and naltrexone. These medications can come in different formulations (oral tablet or film, injectable shot) and last for varying amounts of time. 


 

Buprenorphine

Extended-Release

Naltrexone

Extended-Release

Buprenorphine

Methadone

Drug Format

Long-Acting Injectable

Long-Acting Injectable

Oral Tablet or Film

 

Oral Tablet or Liquid

Overview

Injectable shot that provides steady medication levels over a longer period of time compared to daily formulations; reduces craving and withdrawal symptoms.

 

Used after detox to prevent relapse; requires ~10-day opioid-free period to initiate.

Reduces craving and withdrawal symptoms. Possible higher risk of diversion or being taken by someone other than whom it is prescribed.

 

Supports OUD treatment in detox or maintenance programs, must be taken every day at a doctor’s office or clinic.

Typical Dosing

Weekly or Monthly

 

Monthly

Daily

Daily

Where to Get Treatment for OUD10,11,13

People living with OUD may seek care in many healthcare and community-based settings, including:

  • Hospitals: Inpatient settings for continuous care under observation
  • Office Clinics: Outpatient care options for easy access
  • Home / Telehealth: More accessible care for people who have trouble getting to a clinic
  • Emergency Services: Critical lifesaving interventions for people experiencing an overdose
  • Treatment Centers: Places that focus solely on outpatient treatment and support
  • Criminal Justice System: While jails and prisons are often intervention points for people living with OUD, many people incarcerated are unable to get medication or other treatment

Why Jails and Prisons Can Benefit from MOUD11,12,13,14

Nearly one-fifth of the justice-involved population meets the criteria for OUD, yet 42% of facilities lack access to MOUD.12 When people are not able to get treatment for OUD within jails and prisons, they are more likely to experience overdose, and the criminal justice facility faces greater operational strain. 

Research shows that individuals in their first two weeks post-release from incarceration face overdose mortality rates that are up to 40 times higher than the national average, representing a critical window for care.13

Struggles with OUD management in carceral settings cost taxpayers $52 billion annually, or about $44,000 per inmate.14 Closing the treatment access gap for incarcerated individuals can help reduce overdoses, lower recidivism rates, enhance public safety, and lower system strain.

Barriers to Care and Opportunities15,16,17

Despite the availability of evidence-based treatment options, many people living with OUD do not receive care due to systemic barriers, such as low retention with non-medication-assisted treatments and a shortage of qualified clinicians.

The combination of behavioral therapy and long-acting injectable buprenorphine delivers $295,000 in annual savings per patient, representing the greatest economic benefit across all treatment options.17

Looking ahead, it is important for treatment to transition from crisis care to sustainable care that is focused on long-term recovery outcomes. Increasing the availability of MOUD is one way to create safer, more productive communities.

 

References

  1. The White House. “The Staggering Cost of the Illicit Opioid Epidemic in the United States.” WhiteHouse.gov, March 26, 2025. https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/03/the-staggering-cost-of-the-illicit-opioid-epidemic-in-the-united-states/
  2. National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. “Drug Abuse Statistics.” Accessed Feb. 2, 2026. DrugAbuseStatistics.org, https://drugabusestatistics.org/
  3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” SAMHSA.gov, July 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt56287/2024-nsduh-annual-national-report.pdf
  4. Lindenfeld, Z., et al. “Availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Opioid Treatment Programs.” RAND.org, June 30, 2025. https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP70966.html
  5. Foglesong Stabile, Jillian. “Methadone: How It’s Used, Pros and Cons, and Addiction Potential.” AddictionCenter.com, Nov. 24, 2025. https://www.addictioncenter.com/opiates/methadone/
  6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. “What is Naltrexone? Side Effects, Uses, Dose and Risk.“ SAMHSA.gov, Dec. 22, 2025.
  7. U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. “Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder.” pbm.va.gov, Accessed Feb. 2, 2026. 
  8. Internal: NP – BAG – US (Indivior Internal Material)
  9. Alkermes. (2026). Vivitrol prescribing information. https://www.alkermesmedicalaffairs.com/product-information/vivitrol/pdf/prescribing-information
  10. Continuum of Care: OHS SEER Facilitating Continuity of Care
  11. National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Fewer than half of U.S. jails provide life-saving medications for opioid use disorder.” NIDA.nih.gov, Sept. 24, 2024. https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2024/09/fewer-than-half-of-us-jails-provide-life-saving-medications-for-opioid-use-disorder
  12. Wolfe, C., Gaiazov, S., Valera, P., Mullen, W., MacDonald, R., & Heidbreder, C. (2026). Medications for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities: A 2022 cross-sectional survey of Health Care Staff. Journal of Correctional Health Care. https://doi.org/10.1177/10783458251406288
  13. Shabbar I. Ranapurwala, Meghan E. Shanahan, Apostolos A. Alexandridis, Scott K. Proescholdbell, Rebecca B. Naumann, Daniel Edwards Jr, and Stephen W. Marshall. “Opioid Overdose Mortality Among Former North Carolina Inmates: 2000–2015.” American Journal of Public Health 108, 1207_1213, https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304514
  14. Avalere Health. “The Cost of Opioid Use Disorder.” AvalereHealth.com, May 19, 2025. https://advisory.avalerehealth.com/insights/white-paper-the-cost-of-opioid-use-disorder
  15. Judd, D., King, C., Galke, C. “The Opioid Epidemic: A Review of the Contributing Factors, Negative Consequences, and Best Practices.” Cureus, July 10, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10410480/
  16. Locklear, Mallory. “Treating opioid disorder without meds more harmful than no treatment at all.” YaleNews., Dec. 19, 2023. https://news.yale.edu/2023/12/19/treating-opioid-disorder-without-meds-more-harmful-no-treatment-all
  17. Benefits to Care and the Barrier: Internal Indivior Resources

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