Can buprenorphine cure opioid addiction?

Opioid use disorder is a chronic illness that can reoccur even after a patient has successfully been in recovery for any amount of time. Like most other life-long conditions, relapse is considered part of the recovery process, a speedbump, not a failure. While buprenorphine and naloxone medications are invaluable to patients in treatment, both group and individual substance use counseling sessions are also an essential part of treatment. Counselors help patients create a plan ahead of time to quickly return to their treatment schedule and get back on track should the event of relapse occur. Both fundamental parts of MAT, medication, and counseling, work together to ensure patients continue to work towards their recovery goals in the short and long term.