Medications for Addiction: What the Research Shows

The research shows that medications for opioid and alcohol use disorders are effective, that staying on opioid treatment medication is linked to a much lower risk of death, and that most people who could benefit from these medications never receive them. Medication is not a shortcut or a swap of one drug for another. It is one of the best studied tools in addiction care, and it works best alongside counseling and support.

This article explains what the evidence says about each type of medication, how Wisconsin makes them available, and what questions to ask a provider. It is general information, not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. For free, confidential treatment referrals at any hour, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

Which medications are used to treat addiction?

Medications are approved for two of the most common substance use disorders: opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. For opioids, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that medications such as methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone help people stop using opioids and ease withdrawal symptoms.¹

For alcohol, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says three medications are approved in the United States and calls them an effective and important aid in treatment. Naltrexone, as a pill or injection, helps reduce the urge to drink. Acamprosate eases some of the uncomfortable feelings that can come with not drinking, which makes abstinence easier to maintain. Disulfiram causes unpleasant symptoms if a person drinks.²

Medication	Used for	How it helps
Methadone	Opioid use disorder	Eases withdrawal and cravings; given daily at a certified program at first
Buprenorphine	Opioid use disorder	Eases withdrawal and cravings; can be prescribed in an office
Naltrexone	Opioid or alcohol use disorder	Blocks the effects of opioids and reduces the urge to drink
Acamprosate	Alcohol use disorder	Makes it easier to stay alcohol free
Disulfiram	Alcohol use disorder	Causes unpleasant effects if a person drinks

You can see how these medications fit into a full treatment plan on our medication-assisted treatment page.

What does the research show about opioid treatment medications?

The strongest evidence concerns survival. A 2017 review in the BMJ pooled studies that followed more than 122,000 people treated with methadone and nearly 16,000 treated with buprenorphine. Death rates from any cause were 11.3 per 1,000 person-years while people were in methadone treatment, compared with 36.1 after they left it. For buprenorphine, the figures were 4.3 in treatment and 9.5 out of it.³

The same review found that overdose deaths followed a similar pattern, and its authors concluded that staying in methadone or buprenorphine treatment is linked to substantial reductions in deaths from overdose and other causes.³ That is why many clinicians focus on keeping people engaged in care rather than setting an early end date.

NIDA adds that these medications also lower the risk of behaviors that spread infections such as HIV and hepatitis C, and that they are safe and effective during pregnancy and breastfeeding.¹ If opioids are part of your story, our pages on opioid addiction treatment and fentanyl addiction treatment explain the next steps.

Why do so few people get these medications?

This is the most striking gap in the research. NIDA reports that fewer than 1 in 5 people with opioid use disorder are treated with these medications.¹ The gap for alcohol is even wider. Among the estimated 28.0 million people aged 12 or older with an alcohol use disorder in 2024, NIAAA reports that only 2.5 percent received medication-assisted treatment for it in the past year.⁴

Common barriers include not knowing the medications exist, worry about stigma, the belief that medication replaces one addiction with another, and not knowing where to find a prescriber. NIAAA also notes that people with an alcohol use disorder were more likely to seek care from a primary care provider for an alcohol-related medical problem than for drinking itself.⁴ That makes a regular doctor's visit a good place to ask.

Our alcohol addiction treatment page lists programs that can help you start that conversation.

How does Wisconsin make these medications available?

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) describes three routes. Methadone is a daily liquid that patients take at a certified opioid treatment program until they are cleared for at-home doses. Buprenorphine comes as a dissolving tablet, a cheek film or a six-month implant, and any health care professional may prescribe the at-home doses or give the implant in an office. Naltrexone is a monthly injection that any health care professional may prescribe.⁵

DHS also notes that these medications work to reduce cravings and that most help with withdrawal symptoms.⁵ In practice, this means your first step does not have to be a specialty clinic. A primary care office, an outpatient program or a certified opioid treatment program can all be a starting point. If you have BadgerCare Plus, our Medicaid treatment page shows programs that accept it.

Is medication enough on its own?

For most people, medication works best as part of a broader plan. Counseling helps a person understand triggers, rebuild routines and repair relationships, while medication steadies the body and quiets cravings. Programs that combine the two are often described as evidence-based treatment.

Questions worth asking any provider include:

• Which medications do you offer, and who decides which one fits me?
• Do you provide counseling on site, or will you refer me?
• How long do people usually stay on medication here?
• What happens if I miss a dose or have a setback?
• Does my insurance cover the medication and the visits?

Staying on track can be hard during busy or stressful seasons. Our page on medication adherence support covers practical help.

What should you take away from the research?

Three points stand out. First, medications for opioid and alcohol use disorders are well studied and effective. Second, staying in opioid treatment is closely tied to survival, so stopping early carries real risk. Third, most people who could benefit are not getting these medications, which means asking about them is one of the most useful steps you can take.

For a wider view of treatment outcomes, read our article on whether addiction treatment works, and for the latest state figures, see Wisconsin substance use statistics.