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.