Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT)

OAT Options

For opioid use disorder (OUD), opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is the gold standard treatment.

When combined with counselling and other social supports, OAT is a very effective, medically recognized treatment for opioid use disorder.

Direction 180 offers buprenorphine/naloxone, long acting injectable buprenorphine, methadone, and slow release oral morphine (SROM). These medications are commonly referred to by the brand names Suboxone, Sublocade, and Kadian.

See our poster for a basic overview of OAT Options.

  • Methadone is a powdered medication typically mixed with fruit-flavoured juice, and ingested once a day. Learn more

  • Commonly known by the brand name Suboxone®, BUP/NX comes in two forms, a tablet or film taken once a day by dissolving under the tongue. Some people start this medication by microdosing. BUP/NX has few side effects and a lower risk of overdose in comparison to methadone. Learn more

  • Commonly known as Sublocade®, LAIB is a long-acting injection give once a month just under the skin in the abdomen by a physician or nurse. You can learn more by viewing our patient guide and/or by clicking here.

  • Commonly known as Kadian®, SROM are long-acting morphine capsules taken by mouth once a day, and  slowly released in the body over a 24-hour period.