Glossary

Addiction terminology can be confusing. Explore common opioid use and treatment terms.

Addiction

Explore the concept of addiction, its distinction from dependence, and its impact on individuals and society.

Agonist

Learn about agonist medications, their role in opioid addiction treatment, and how they differ from antagonist and partial agonist medications.

BARC-10

Learn about the Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10), a tool used to evaluate a person's resources and strengths that can support their recovery from addiction.

Belbuca

Learn about Belbuca, a medication used for chronic pain management. Discover its historical context, medical formulations, and more.

Boxes

Boxes is a term derived from the “box” in “Suboxone.” This Suboxone street name is an abbreviation for the more confusing medication names used for OUD.

Bupe

Discover Bupe, a slang term for the opioid medication buprenorphine, and its significance in the realm of drug use and addiction treatment.

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a common prescription drug used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Learn more about the side effects and uses for buprenorphine.

Carfentanil

Carfentanil is a potent synthetic opioid developed as a tranquilizer for large animals. It is not approved for human use but has been found in street drugs.

Ceiling effect

Understand the concept of the ceiling effect in opioid addiction treatment and its implications for medications like buprenorphine.

Codeine

Codeine is a naturally occurring opiate commonly used to treat mild to moderate pain and as a cough suppressant. It is a less potent analgesic than morphine.

Cravings

Cravings are intense urges or desires to use a substance, often triggered by cues associated with the substance, such as specific environments, people, or emotions.

DEA

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is a United States federal law enforcement agency that combats drug trafficking and distribution, as well as the diversion of prescription medications.

Dependence

Learn about the concept of dependence, its distinction from addiction, and its relevance in opioid addiction treatment and recovery.

Detox

Detox is the process of removing a substance and its associated toxins from the body, often as the first step in the treatment of substance use disorders.

FDA

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is responsible for approving and regulating medications used in MAT for OUD, as well as overseeing the safety and efficacy of these treatments.

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. It is used for severe pain, chronic pain management, and anesthesia.

Fentanyl test strips

Learn about fentanyl test strips, their role in harm reduction efforts, and how they can help prevent opioid overdoses.

Goofball

Explore Goofball, a street name for the dangerous combination of methamphetamine and opioids, and its impact on drug culture and addiction.

Half-Life

Half-life is a term used in pharmacology to describe the time it takes for the concentration of a substance to decrease by half in the body or a given environment.

Harm reduction

Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to minimize the negative consequences of substance use and promote safer practices without requiring abstinence.

Heroin

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine known for its euphoric effects and is commonly abused recreationally.

Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from codeine and is used to treat moderate to severe pain and cough.

Hydromorphone

Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine and is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is more potent, but has a shorter duration.

Induction

Learn about the induction phase of opioid addiction treatment, its purpose, and how it is managed to avoid complications.

IOP

Discover the role of intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) in the treatment of substance use disorders, offering a flexible and less restrictive approach to care.

IVDU

Learn about intravenous drug use (IVDU), its risks, and harm reduction strategies to minimize the potential negative consequences.

Lofexidine

Lofexidine is a non-opioid medication used to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms by reducing the release of norepinephrine.

Lucemyra

Learn about Lucemyra, a medication used to manage the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Discover its historical context, medical formulations, and more.

MAT

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is tailored to the specific needs of individuals with opioid use disorder. Learn more about MAT in the Ophelia glossary.

Meperidine

Meperidine is a synthetic opioid that is structurally distinct from other opioids. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain, but its use has decreased over time.

Methadone

Methadone is a synthetic opioid used primarily in the treatment of opioid addiction, as it helps to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.

Morphine

Morphine is an opiate alkaloid extracted from the opium poppy plant and is one of the most potent and commonly prescribed opioids for moderate to severe pain.

MOUD

MOUD (medications for opioid use disorder) refers to the use of medications specifically approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).

Naloxone

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It is an essential emergency medication in overdose situations.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids and is used to treat OUD by preventing relapse after detoxification.

Narcan

Learn about Narcan, a brand name for the opioid medication naloxone, and its significance in the realm of drug use and addiction treatment.

Opioid addiction treatment

Opioid addiction treatment helps individuals who are misusing opioids or living with opioid use disorder (OUD). Learn more about this in the Ophelia glossary.

Opioid epidemic

Understand the opioid epidemic and the opioid overdose crisis, their causes, and the efforts made to address these public health emergencies.

Opioids

Opioids include prescription pain medications, synthetic drugs & illegal substances derived from (or similar to) opium. Learn more from the Ophelia glossary.

Oranges

Learn about Oranges, a slang term for opioid addiction treatment medications containing buprenorphine, and its connection to substance use and recovery.

OUD

OUD (opioid use disorder) is a medical condition characterized by a problematic pattern of opioid use, leading to significant impairment or distress.

Overdose

Overdose occurs when an individual consumes a toxic or lethal amount of a substance, leading to severe adverse effects or death. Learn more here.

Oxycodone

Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from thebaine, an opium alkaloid, and is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Oxymorphone

Oxymorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from thebaine and is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is more potent than morphine but has a shorter duration.

Partial agonist

Discover the role of partial agonists in opioid addiction treatment and how they contribute to safer and more effective therapies.

Physical dependence

Physical dependence is a physiological state in which the body relies on a substance to function normally and can occur with regular use of a substance.

Polysubstance use

Learn about polysubstance use, its complications in addiction treatment, and the importance of addressing it to ensure effective care.

Precipitated withdrawal

Understand precipitated withdrawal, its causes, symptoms, and how it can be avoided during opioid addiction treatment.

Probuphine

Probuphine is a subdermal implant that delivers a continuous low dose of buprenorphine over a six-month period and is used for the maintenance treatment of OUD.

Psychological dependence

Psychological dependence can develop independently of physical dependence and is an important component of substance use disorders. Learn more here.

PWID

Learn about the term PWID, used to humanize and destigmatize people who inject drugs, promoting a more empathetic approach.

PWUD

Understand the importance of using respectful language, like people who use drugs (PWUD), to destigmatize and humanize people who use drugs.

Recovery

Explore the concept of recovery in the context of opioid addiction treatment and the various paths individuals take towards healing.

Rehab

Learn about the role of rehabilitation in treating substance use disorders, including various treatment settings, levels of care, and approaches.

Relapse

Relapse refers to the return to active substance use after a period of abstinence or reduced use and is a common occurrence in the recovery process.

SAMHSA

SAMHSA is a U.S. government agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.

Speedball

Uncover Speedball, a slang term for the risky mix of cocaine and opioids, and its relationship to substance use, addiction, and overdose.

SSP

Explore the role of syringe service programs (SSPs) in reducing harm and promoting health among people who inject drugs.

Stigma

Discover the impact of stigma on individuals with opioid use disorder and the importance of using respectful, non-stigmatizing language.

Stop Signs

Stop sign is a street name for Suboxone medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Learn about this and other street names in the Ophelia glossary.

Strips

The street name "strips" refers to paper strips soaked in illicit drugs. Suboxone strips became popular in the mid-1960s.

Sublocade

Sublocade is an extended-release injectable form of buprenorphine used to treat OUD which helps manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Suboxone

Suboxone® is a medication used to help treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Suboxone® is often used in medications for assisted treatment (MAT) programs.

Subs

Explore Subs, a common street name for the medication Suboxone, used in opioid addiction treatment, and its role in drug culture and recovery.

Subutex

Subutex® is one of the leading medications used to help individuals overcome opioid use disorder (OUD). Learn more about Subutex® treatment with Ophelia.

Tapentadol

Tapentadol is a centrally acting atypical opioid analgesic with dual mechanisms of action: mu-opioid receptor agonism and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition.

Tapering

Discover the concept of tapering off opioids, its purpose, and how it is used in the context of opioid addiction treatment.

Tolerance

Tolerance can develop with regular use of a substance and is a significant factor in the development of substance use disorders. Learn more here.

Tramadol

Tramadol is a synthetic atypical opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain and has a lower risk of dependence compared to other opioids.

Vivitrol

Vivitrol is an injectable, extended-release formulation of naltrexone used to treat opioid use disorder by preventing relapse after detoxification.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include anxiety, irritability, sweating, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and more.

Xylazine

Learn about xylazine, a veterinary drug used as a sedative and muscle relaxant in animals, and its illicit use among humans. Discover its historical context and more.

Zubsolv

Zubsolv is a combination medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used used as a medication for addiction treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD).