The Science and Effectiveness of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: A City of St. Louis Department of Health Course
This course provides a comparative overview of the three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD; e.g., methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone), including how they work, their effectiveness, and their respective benefits and limitations. Participants will explore the neuroscience of addiction, with a focus on how substance use affects the brain’s reward and reinforcement systems, and the critical role medications play in treatment and recovery.
The course also examines how each medication interacts with brain receptors, as well as its impact on patient experience and treatment adherence. Drawing on a strong evidence base, it highlights how medications reduce overdose deaths, relapse, and involvement with the criminal legal system. It also offers insights into perspectives from individuals with lived experiences and how MOUD supported their recovery and health.
- Explain the science of addiction and how opioid use disorder affects the brain’s reward and reinforcement systems.
- Describe how FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder work in the body and how they are used in treatment.
- Discuss the systemic challenges and stigmas that affect access to treatment, particularly within justice-involved populations.
- Recognize the lived experiences of individuals in recovery and understand how MOUD has supported their health, stability, and quality of life.
This course is open to all community members and professionals who are interested in learning more about substance use disorders and medication for opioid use disorder.
Addiction Policy Forum & City of St. Louis Department of Health. (2026). The Science and Effectiveness of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: A City of St. Louis Department of Health Course. Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network Coordination and Translation Center. https://www.jcoinctc.org/courses/the-science-and-effectiveness-of-medications-for-opioid-use-disorder-a-city-of-st-louis-department-of-health-course/
