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Opiate addiction treatment is the second largest form of drug treatment in America after alcohol addiction. Opiate addiction is difficult to cure, since many addicts will begin reusing even after treatment. But physicians are finding various ways to treat addicts either by maintaining their opiate addiction or weaning them off the drug. Three treatments that are getting the best results are Oxycontin, methadone, and buprenorphine.

Oxycontin is a prescription painkiller that has the opiate oxycodone. Taken in capsule form, the drug is released slowly within a 12 hour period. Generally, Oxycontin is non-addictive since it is a controlled substance, but studies have shown that it can become addictive to those who have past drug or alcohol problems. Therefore physicians are more cautious about prescribing Oxycontin as an opiate analgesic.

Methadone is a more well-known and scientifically-tested form of treatment and is used to maintain or wean off opiate addiction. Since the 1970s, physicians have used methadone to maintain and treat opiate addiction. Taken in liquid form, methadone can last up to 24 to 36 hours and can have very few side effects. Methadone is the most effective treatment because it provides a high similar to opiates and limits problems associated with opiate addiction, such as depression, dysfunction, criminal behavior, and the contraction of diseases like HIV or other STDs.

A newer form of opiate addiction treatment is buprenorphine, or Suboxone treatment. Buprenorphine is used to fill up the starving opiate receptors in opiate addicts so that they do not feel withdrawal. Taken at least 3 times a week, buprenorphine comes in a tablet form and is held under the tongue, but is not swallowed or ingested like other drugs. One of the main advantages of buprenorphine is that it can be taken at home, eliminating the need to get treatment at methadone clinics and providing the addict the privacy to treat his opiate addiction.