Opioid Addiction Treatment: Medications, Support and Where to Get Help

The most effective treatment for opioid addiction is medication for opioid use disorder, usually methadone or buprenorphine, combined with counselling and support. These medicines reduce the risk of overdose death. Help is available today: in the US, call SAMHSA's free, confidential helpline on 1-800-662-4357. Amanita muscaria is not a treatment and carries real risks.

An earlier version of this page linked addiction recovery to an Amanita product. That was wrong, and we have removed it. This page now explains the treatments that work and where to find them.

What is the most effective treatment for opioid addiction?

Opioid use disorder is a medical condition, and it has well-tested treatments. The US National Institute on Drug Abuse names three FDA-approved medications: methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone (NIDA, Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder, updated 2025).

NIDA reports that people treated with methadone or buprenorphine are less likely to die or overdose than people who receive no treatment. The medicines also reduce behaviours that spread HIV and hepatitis C.

• Methadone is a long-acting medicine taken daily, usually through a specialist clinic. It prevents withdrawal and reduces cravings.
• Buprenorphine works in a similar way but with a ceiling on some effects. In the US it can be prescribed in ordinary doctors' offices.
• Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids. It is started only after a person has fully withdrawn.

SAMHSA describes these medicines as safe for long-term use, from months to a lifetime (SAMHSA, Treatment Options for Substance Use Disorders). They work best alongside counselling and practical support.

In the UK, the NHS offers substitute medicines such as methadone and buprenorphine through local drug services, free of charge (NHS, Drug addiction: getting help). You can be referred by a GP or contact a service directly.

Why is quitting alone so risky?

Many people try to stop on their own, often more than once. Withdrawal from opioids is intensely unpleasant, and it drives many people straight back to use.

There is a more serious danger. After a period without opioids, the body's tolerance drops. Returning to a previous amount can then cause a fatal overdose. That is one reason detox on its own, without ongoing treatment, is not considered enough.

Naloxone is the emergency medicine that reverses an opioid overdose. The World Health Organization says it can prevent death when given promptly (WHO, Opioid overdose fact sheet, 2025). In 2023 the FDA approved the first naloxone nasal spray for sale without a prescription in the US (FDA, 2023).

If you or someone close to you uses opioids, keep naloxone at home and learn how to use it.

Why are unproven substances the wrong path?

Online content sometimes promotes "natural" substances, including Amanita muscaria, for withdrawal or cravings. There is no clinical evidence for this.

The risks, however, are documented. The US FDA's 2024 review found reports of central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, seizures and death linked to Amanita muscaria products (FDA Scientific Memorandum, September 2024).

Respiratory depression is exactly what makes opioid overdose deadly. Adding another sedating substance to opioids can compound that danger. For someone in recovery, an unregulated psychoactive substance can also become a new source of harm. Our overview of Amanita muscaria's documented side effects sets out these effects in order.

The treatments above have decades of evidence behind them. Anything that delays or replaces them puts a person's life at risk.

How do you start treatment?

You do not need to have everything figured out before asking for help. The first call is simply a conversation about options.

• Speak to a doctor, GP or local drug service about medication for opioid use disorder.
• In the US, search for providers at FindTreatment.gov, the federal treatment locator.
• Ask about counselling, peer support and help with housing, work or legal issues.
• If you are supporting someone else, family services can help you too.

Swapping one unregulated substance for another is not the same as recovery. Our article on why substituting Amanita for another substance is not quitting explains why.

Frequently Asked Questions

What medications treat opioid addiction?

The FDA-approved medications are methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. Methadone and buprenorphine are linked to lower rates of overdose and death.

Is taking methadone or buprenorphine just swapping one drug for another?

No. They are prescribed, measured treatments that stabilise brain chemistry, prevent withdrawal and reduce overdose risk. SAMHSA describes them as safe for long-term use.

Can Amanita muscaria help with opioid withdrawal?

No. There is no clinical evidence for this, and the FDA has documented serious effects including respiratory depression, seizures and death.

What is naloxone?

Naloxone is an emergency medicine that reverses an opioid overdose. In the US, a naloxone nasal spray has been available without a prescription since 2023.

Where can I get help right now?

In the US, call SAMHSA's helpline on 1-800-662-4357. In the UK, call FRANK on 0300 123 6600. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.

This article is educational content, not medical advice. Amanita muscaria is toxic and is not sold for ingestion. If you are worried about your health or someone else's, speak to a doctor or contact the services listed above.