Back to Module Intro

Substitution Treatment

0% Complete
0/13 Steps
  1. Is substitution treatment right for me?
  2. How do I deal with stigma?
  3. Can I go on substitution if I’m pregnant?
  4. How does substitution treatment work?
  5. What are my treatment options?
  6. What about side effects?
  7. How do I start substitution treatment?
  8. What are the costs?
  9. Should I get other support too?
  10. Can I stop taking the medication?
  11. What are some myths?
  12. Substitution Quiz
  13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Substitution Treatment How does substitution treatment work?
In Progress
Lesson 4 of 13
In Progress

How does substitution treatment work?

Here you will learn about how substitution treatment works.

Watch this video if you want a quick overview of substitution treatment:

Substitution treatment works by substituting the drug you are using such as street heroin or fentanyl with a safer alternative to safely reduce heavy opioid use, cravings, withdrawal symptoms and your risk of overdosing. 

Watch this video if you want a more in-depth overview of medications used in substitution treatment and how they work.

Short acting drugs like heroin and morphine will cause extreme highs and lows over a short period of time. Long acting medications like methadone or buprenorphine (Suboxone) will help to stabilize these intense physiological and psychological reactions over a longer time, meaning they can help prevent dope sickness and reduce cravings. 

Think about the last time you felt dope sick, how long after using did you start feeling sick?

You likely started to feel sick somewhere between 6 to 8 hours after your last use, maybe even less than that. 

With substitution opioids, you will likely only need to take them once a day because they will last about 24 hours. By helping to stabilize intense physiological and psychological reactions and preventing dope sickness and cravings, long-acting medications like methadone or buprenorphine put you in control.