Quitting cold turkey is rarely the most effective approach to overcoming substance use disorders and fentanyl is no exception. In milder cases of fentanyl dependence, a tapering protocol is a highly effective strategy for managing withdrawal symptoms, but in severe cases of dependence, opioid replacement therapy in the form of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be more appropriate.
MAT is a strategy that replaces fentanyl with other opioids that have longer half-lives and that do not deliver the euphoria that is associated with fentanyl abuse. The goal of MAT is to provide the brain with a substance that can mimic the chemical effects of fentanyl in the brain without delivering the sense of euphoria that perpetuates addiction. In other words, MAT tricks the brain into believing that it is receiving the drug it has become accustomed to without continuing to reinforce the pleasure that is associated with fentanyl use.
There are several drugs that are valuable MAT options for people recovering from a fentanyl use disorder, including methadone, buprenorphine, Suboxone and naltrexone.