Prescribe with Confidence
Patients with Opioid Use Disorder Need You
An Estimated 4 Million People Aged 12 or Older Have Opioid Use Disorder
Primary care providers may already be caring for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Many people with OUD need or want treatment but may not have access to specialty care.
Opioid Use Disorder is a Treatable Chronic Health Condition
OUD can be treated and managed like other chronic health conditions. Primary care providers can work with patients to develop treatment plans that meet their individual needs, including treatment with medications for OUD when appropriate.
Primary care providers are in a key position to diagnose and treat OUD.
Primary Care Providers Can Prescribe Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Research shows that medications are an effective treatment for OUD and can save lives.
Primary care providers can prescribe medications for OUD and help expand access to treatment.
Training, Mentoring, and Resources Are Available
Free training, clinical guidance, mentoring, and other resources are available to help health care providers who currently prescribe medications for OUD or want to get started.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Save Lives
- How effective are medications to treat opioid use disorder? National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2025.
- Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 2026.
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Save Lives, Consensus Study Report. National Academies for Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). 2019.
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 63. SAMHSA. 2021.
- Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit. SAMHSA. 2026.
- Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2024.
- White House National Drug Control Strategy. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Executive Office of the President. 2026.