Canadian guideline expands treatment options for opioid use disorder

The update is aimed at physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, clinical psychologists, social workers, medical educators, clinical care case managers with or without specialized experience in addiction treatment, and other allied health care professionals who provide care for people with opioid use disorder.

Key recommendations:

• Buprenorphine (also refers to buprenorphine–naloxone) and methadone can be used as standard first-line treatment options for opioid agonist therapy
• Slow-release oral morphine can be used as second-line treatment
• Avoid withdrawal management as stand-alone treatment and ensure long-term management to ensure safety and well-being of people with opioid use disorder
• Psychosocial treatments and supports, such as therapy, should be offered as additional approaches but should not be mandatory nor prevent access to opioid agonist therapy
• Pregnant people can be offered buprenorphine or methadone as treatment options

The authors hope that the guideline will provide evidence-based treatment for opioid users and recommend that provinces update their approaches to managing opioid use disorder to help Canadians.

Source:

Canadian Medical Association Journal

Journal reference: