Types of Medication for Addiction Treatment

Buprenorphine and Suboxone®

Buprenorphine works by partially activating your brain’s opioid receptors. Because its effect is partial and controlled compared to drugs like heroin or prescription opioids, it reduces cravings and prevents withdrawal without producing intoxication. This gives your brain the stability it needs so you can focus on recovery instead of constantly fighting cravings.

Buprenorphine comes as a dissolvable film or tablet that you place under your tongue. After an initial supervised period, you pick up your medication from the pharmacy and take your prescribed doses of medication at home. Your dose starts low and gets adjusted based on how you respond.

• Subutex — Tablet form of buprenorphine alone
• Sublocade and Brixadi — Long-acting injectable forms that last for weeks or a month
• Suboxone® — Combines buprenorphine with naloxone to discourage misuse. When you take it as prescribed by dissolving it under your tongue, the naloxone doesn’t interfere and the buprenorphine does its job.

Methadone

Methadone is a full opioid agonist, which means it activates opioid receptors fully but in a controlled, stable way. This medication has been used for decades and has the longest track record of any treatment for opioid use disorder.

Methadone is highly effective at reducing cravings and preventing withdrawal. Because of its potency and the importance of careful dosing, methadone for opioid use disorder is dispensed at specialized clinics called Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) — not prescribed to take home from the start. Early in treatment, you visit the clinic daily to receive your dose under medical supervision. This close oversight allows your care team to monitor your response and adjust your dose safely.

As your treatment progresses in treatment and you reach certain stability milestones, you become eligible for take-home doses and less frequent visits. Daily clinic visits are not a permanent requirement — they are a starting point that gradually becomes more flexible as you demonstrate progress in treatment. Your provider can also work with you to ensure that your symptoms are well managed with the medication.

For some people, the daily clinic visits provide structure and consistency. You’re seen by medical staff regularly, which means you can address any concerns right away. You also build relationships with other people in recovery who are coming in on the same schedule.

Studies show that methadone significantly reduces overdose risk and helps people stay in treatment longer. It remains one of the most studied and trusted options available.

There’s no commonly used brand name for methadone — it’s typically dispensed as a generic medication.

Vivitrol® (Naltrexone)

Naltrexone works completely differently from buprenorphine and methadone. It’s an opioid antagonist, which means it blocks opioid receptors entirely instead of activating them. If you use opioids while taking naltrexone, you won’t feel any effect.

Vivitrol® is the brand name for the long-acting injectable form of naltrexone. It’s given as a once-monthly injection, which ensures steady medication levels and removes the need for daily pills.

Naltrexone also comes as a daily pill (generic naltrexone) for people who prefer oral dosing.

Naltrexone requires you to be completely opioid-free before starting — typically at least 7 to 10 days without opioids, and sometimes longer depending on what you were using. This is an important medical consideration. Because naltrexone blocks opioid receptors, starting it while opioids are still in your system will trigger sudden, severe withdrawal — you may hear this referred to as “precipitated withdrawal” or “precip.” Your care team will guide you through the detox period and confirm you are ready before initiating naltrexone.

It does not manage withdrawal symptoms on its own, so it is not appropriate as an early-stage stabilization medication the way buprenorphine or methadone are. It works best for people who have already achieved initial stability and are focused on relapse prevention going forward.

For many people, knowing that opioids cannot produce an effect provides a powerful layer of protection. It removes the option of using, which can be freeing during early recovery. There’s no point in using because it literally won’t work.

How These Medications Work in Your Brain

Opioids change your brain over time. They flood receptors with artificial signals, which causes your brain to stop producing its own natural chemicals. This creates physical dependence — your brain needs the opioids just to function normally.

Medications for addiction treatment restore balance:

• Buprenorphine and Suboxone® partially activate receptors, preventing withdrawal and cravings without intoxication.
• Methadone fully activates receptors in a controlled way, stabilizing your brain chemistry.
• Vivitrol® (Naltrexone) blocks receptors entirely, so opioids have no effect if you use.

Why Behavioral Support Matters Too

Medication addresses the physical side of opioid use disorder: the cravings, the withdrawal, the brain chemistry.

Behavioral support — through counseling, care management, or both — addresses everything else: the stress, the trauma, the patterns, the triggers, the relationships.

Both are important for lasting recovery.

Where counseling is available, sessions focus on the deeper issues connected to your substance use — examining past experiences, identifying personal triggers and developing healthier coping skills. At locations where on-site counseling isn’t available, care managers and care coordinators provide support and connect you with community behavioral health resources. In all cases, some form of behavioral support is part of your treatment.

Medication builds stability in your body and brain. Behavioral support helps you create meaningful change in your daily life. Together, these approaches form the foundation of effective treatment.

Choosing the Right Medication

There’s no single “best” medication. The right choice depends on several factors:

• Your medical history and current health: Some medications work better with certain health conditions than others.
• How long you’ve been using opioids: This can influence which medication is most appropriate.
• Previous treatment experiences: If you’ve tried medication before, what worked and what didn’t?
• Your daily schedule and responsibilities: Do you need something you can take at home, or can you manage daily clinic visits?
• Personal preferences: Some people prefer the structure of daily dosing; others need the flexibility of take-home medication.

At Crossroads Treatment Centers, our providers take time to understand your unique situation. They explain each option clearly and help you make an informed decision based on what will actually work for your life.

Common Concerns About Medication

Medication at Crossroads Treatment Centers

Crossroads offers all three types of medication for addiction treatment: buprenorphine, Suboxone®, methadone and Vivitrol®. Our doctors and nurse practitioners have specialized training in addiction medicine — they’re not generalists dabbling in this work. Treatment should be individualized to your situation — not standardized.

Most of our treatment centers are CARF-accredited, which reflects our commitment to quality care. Many of our locations offer same-day and virtual intakes because we know that when you’re ready for help, waiting even a few days can feel impossible.

Paying for Treatment

Cost shouldn’t be what stops you from accessing these medications. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, the VA Community Care Network and most commercial insurance plans. If you don’t have insurance, we have self-pay options and grant assistance for people who qualify. Our admissions team will verify your benefits and explain any costs upfront.

Getting Started

If you’re ready to explore your medication options, contact Crossroads Treatment Centers to schedule an intake appointment. We’ll answer your questions, explain each medication clearly and help you take that first step toward recovery.