New Online Tool for Patients with Opioid Use Disorders

A new, interactive, online tool called Decisions in Recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder has been launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide people with information on “the role of medications in treating opioid use disorder” (SAMHSA, 2016).

The online aid and the handbook that goes with it aim to help people in or seeking recovery from opioid use disorders and the service providers who work with them. According to SAMHSA, “it can also be used by health officials, policymakers, and other members of the community involved in addressing the problem of opioid use disorders” (2016).

According to Kana Enomoto, the deputy assistant secretary for mental health and substance use, “Medication-assisted treatment is often a key element in freeing people from the devastating consequences of opioid-related disorders. By providing accurate, easy to understand information, the Decisions in Recovery tool helps people set their own course for treatment and recovery” (SAMHSA, 2016).

Decisions in Recovery includes information about methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone in the treatment of opioid use disorders; videos of recovery stories; worksheets for recovery; and much more. It can be accessed by clicking here.

References

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2016). New interactive tool available to help people find effective treatment for opioid use disorders. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/201612151045

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