Powering Recovery

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a treatable brain disease. It impacts millions of people in the United States daily. Each year, around 4.0 million people are diagnosed with OUD, with an estimated 7.1 million people misusing opioids.^1,2 

Opioid overdose remains the leading cause of death among U.S. adults ages 18–45. Opioid misuse contributes to around 80,000 preventable deaths each year.^1,3 With only 15.2% receiving medications for opioid use disorder, there is a critical need to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and expand access to effective treatment and support for people living with OUD. 

Learn more about opioid use disorder.

Opioid use disorder alters the brain’s reward, stress, and self-control circuits, which is why stopping opioid use without support can be extremely challenging. When opioids enter the brain, they attach to specific receptors on brain cells, reducing pain and creating feelings of pleasure.⁴

With repeated opioid use, the brain adapts to receiving opioids from an outside source. Over time, these changes affect how the brain and body respond to both opioids and the body’s natural reward signals, contributing to physical dependence and cravings. This dependence can make it difficult to quit using opioids without the right treatment.⁵

Long-acting injectable (LAI) buprenorphine is a once-monthly or once-weekly shot for people living with opioid use disorder (OUD) that provides treatment over an extended period of time, reducing the burden of taking medication every day, all while lowering healthcare costs down the line. 

Patients with OUD are more likely to stay on medication and express higher treatment satisfaction when taking LAI formulations.^6,7,8 Compared with daily oral medications, monthly LAIs reduce the number of treatment days and eliminate the burden of making a daily decision to take medication, which may reduce the risk of relapse.⁹ Instead of taking up to 365 doses of medicine per year with orally administered medications, people using LAI buprenorphine may only need 10-12 doses per year to stay on effective treatment.¹⁰

Recent real-world evidence shows that LAIs reduce staffing times and associated costs in criminal justice settings.¹¹ Due to it being administered as a monthly injectable, LAI buprenorphine was found to help reduce diversion and improve treatment in jails and prisons.¹²

Learn more about long-acting injectable buprenorphine and its role in criminal justice facilities.

<sup>References
13. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2026). Results from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.</sup> 

Stigma remains a significant barrier to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). It can make individuals less likely to seek help by making it harder for them to talk about their condition.

People living with OUD also face fragmented care across medical, behavioral, and jail and prison systems. Not every treatment provider offers evidence-based care, and there are not enough clinicians nationwide to provide care for the number of people who need help.^14,15,16,17

This is why it is important to reduce stigma and increase awareness of OUD treatment options so that more people can get the help they need. 

^{References
14. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Words matter: Preferred language for talking about addiction. National Institutes of Health. 
15. Avalere Health. “The Cost of Opioid Use Disorder.” AvalereHealth.com, May 19, 2025. 
16. Judd, D., King, C., Galke, C. “The Opioid Epidemic: A Review of the Contributing Factors, Negative Consequences, and Best Practices.” Cureus, July 10, 2025. 
17. Locklear, Mallory. “Treating opioid disorder without meds more harmful than no treatment at all.” YaleNews., Dec. 19, 2023.}