Drug & Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Medications 

Alcohol and drug addiction treatment medications are often a component of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan. Medications for addiction treatment will often be used alongside counseling and behavioral therapies to address underlying issues and teach people the necessary skills to avoid substances.¹

The use of addiction treatment medications can vary by individual factors, including the specific substance a person uses.¹ However, incorporating these medications into a complete, whole-person approach to treatment can lead to an increased chance of positive outcomes.¹

If you’re struggling, or you know someone who is, it’s important to understand your treatment options. Keep reading to learn more about the types of treatment for alcoholism and opioid use disorder, and how to find effective substance use disorder treatment that works for your needs. 

What Are Addiction Treatment Medications? 

Medications are often used during different stages of treatment.² During the initial addiction detox phase, specific medications can help people safely withdraw from substances like alcohol and opioids.

For individuals withdrawing from alcohol, medications such as benzodiazepines are commonly used to manage acute withdrawal symptoms safely and prevent serious complications like seizures. For opioid withdrawal, medications like buprenorphine or methadone can be initiated to alleviate discomfort and reduce cravings.²

Following the detox phase, medications often play a crucial role in the ongoing maintenance phase as a part of a comprehensive drug addiction treatment plan. In this capacity, addiction treatment medications can:²

• Continue to reduce cravings. 
• Help people abstain from or avoid a return to substance use. 
• Help them remain in treatment. 
• Help a person focus on counseling and behavioral therapies that allow them to make important life changes and build necessary skills.

 Alcohol Addiction Treatment Medications

Medication for alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be used as a part of a long-term treatment plan that offers a “whole patient” approach to recovery.² Different medications serve various purposes, such as to help reduce alcohol use, cravings, and the rewarding effects of alcohol, and can be implemented strategically at different points during treatment.¹

Three FDA-approved medications may be prescribed to help those with AUD, including: 

• Disulfiram. 
• Acamprosate.
• Naltrexone. 

Acamprosate 

Acamprosate is a medication that works in a person’s brain to support abstinence in individuals who have already stopped drinking and who want to continue to completely abstain from alcohol. It works by by reducing and stabilizing excitatory brain activity that develops in association with protracted alcohol withdrawal.¹ This process helps to reduce these postacute and persistent symptoms—such as insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness—that might otherwise lead to a return to drinking.¹  

Acamprosate is typically initiated after a person has undergone detoxification, is no longer experiencing acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and has ideally achieved five days of abstinence.^{4, 5}

Disulfiram 

Disulfiram is a medication used to treat alcohol use disorder that works by inhibiting the liver’s ability to metabolize alcohol, leading to the accumulation of a toxic byproduct known as acetaldehyde.^{5, 6} This buildup causes unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, sweating, chest pain, palpitations, hyperventilation, weakness, vertigo, hypotension, and tachycardia when a person drinks alcohol.⁵

Disulfiram can act as an alcohol deterrent, because a person who knows that they will experience these symptoms may refrain from alcohol use.⁵

Disulfiram can be particularly effective for those who are committed to complete abstinence from alcohol and are engaged with an alcohol use disorder treatment program.⁴

Naltrexone 

Naltrexone is an AUD medication that blocks the opioid receptors responsible for the rewarding effects of drinking alcohol and the craving for alcohol.¹ It can help people who are committed to stopping drinking remain abstinent but also be safely used in combination with alcohol, so it may be prescribed to people who are interested in decreasing their alcohol use as well as to those who want to achieve complete abstinence.⁶ Naltrexone has been shown to be effective in reducing relapse in some people with problematic alcohol use.¹ 

It is important to note that naltrexone should not be used by people who are currently using opioids, as it can cause severe withdrawal symptoms as well as block the effects of opioids.⁴ This blocking effect may cause people to take a higher dose of opioids in an attempt to achieve desired opioid effects, which can lead to a deadly overdose.^{4, 6} 

Opioid Addiction Treatment Medications 

Various FDA-approved medications can benefit those struggling with OUD, including:^{1, 2}

• Buprenorphine. 
• Methadone. 
• Extended-release naltrexone. 

Medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) are effective and provide numerous benefits, such as reducing illicit opioid use, suppressing cravings, and treating withdrawal symptoms, yet less than 20% of people with opioid use disorder receive them.^{7, 8} It’s therefore important to be aware of the many benefits of these medications and how they can assist your recovery. 

Buprenorphine 

Buprenorphine is an OUD medication known as a partial opioid agonist, which means it activates opioid receptors, but to a lesser degree than full agonists like methadone.⁸ It is effective for reducing cravings and alleviating withdrawal symptoms in people with OUD without causing a high or feelings of pleasure associated with opioids.⁸ Buprenorphine also blocks or minimizes the effects of other opioids, which may help people avoid a return to opioid use, and it can also help people remain in treatment.^{1, 9} 

Unlike methadone, which requires people to go to specialty clinics to receive it, any physician with a standard DEA registration that includes Schedule III authority can now prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.^{1, 8}

Methadone 

Methadone is an OUD medication known as a synthetic opioid agonist, which means that it binds to and activates the same opioid receptors as other opioids, like heroin or opioid painkillers.⁸ However, it works more slowly and also remains in a person’s body for a longer time.⁸ This means that it can benefit people with OUD by reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings and blocking the effects of illicit opioids, without causing intense feelings of pleasure.^{1, 8} 

People should understand that when methadone is taken as directed and used under the supervision of a qualified medical professional, it does not produce euphoria, and it is a safe and effective medication for the treatment of OUD.^{8, 9}

Methadone can only be dispensed in licensed methadone clinics, or opioid treatment programs (OTPs).⁸ At the beginning of treatment, people usually take methadone once a day onsite at OTPs, however, when they achieve stability, they may be allowed to take a certain number of doses home for self-administration.⁸

Extended Release Naltrexone

Naltrexone may also be prescribed during the treatment of opioid use disorder. Whereas buprenorphine and methadone activate opioid receptors, Naltrexone blocks the brain’s opioid receptors.^{8, 9} As a result, naltrexone can block the euphoric effects of opioids while helping to reduce cravings.

Extended-release naltrexone, of which an injectable version was approved by the FDA in 2010, may be used as part of a medically-supervised treatment plan to help a patient maintain abstinence from opioids.⁸ 

Does Insurance Cover Medications for Addiction Treatment? 

Health insurance may cover some or all of the costs associated with addiction treatment.¹⁰ Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most individual and small employer health insurance plans—including those offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace—are required to cover mental health and substance use disorder services, as they are deemed to be essential health benefits.¹⁰ 

However, the specific insurance coverage for addiction treatment you may receive can vary based on your particular plan, the type of treatment you receive, and the length of treatment, so it’s advisable to check your exact coverage directly with your insurance provider before committing to treatment.¹¹ 

Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment in New England

If you’re struggling, or you know someone who is, it’s important to know that you’re not alone, and treatment can help. At AdCare, a rehab in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, we can help you or your loved one get vital care. Our rehab offers various levels of addiction treatment that includes evidence-based therapies and medications, as well as individualized treatment plans that are customized to each person’s needs. 

AdCare’s staff is ready to help you achieve recovery. Call us today at to discuss your rehab payment options, verify your rehab insurance, and begin the rehab admissions process.