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Buprenorphine. A medication that acts as an opioid in the brain to reduce the desire to use the problem drug. Buprenorphine helps patients avoid withdrawal symptoms and reduces powerful desires for opioids.

Co-occurring disorders. The coexistence of both a mental illness and a substance use disorder or addiction.

Detox- Withdrawal from long term alcohol and drug use symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to life threatening.  Completing the detox process and achieving a successful recovery is possible, and it is often more manageable and safer in a professional medical setting. 

Severe Alcohol Abuse and Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, Klonopine) can be life threatening. Opioid’s withdrawal causes such severe sickness that it can easily cause people to fall back into use.  Methamphetamine withdrawal can bring about psychosis, dehydration, and other symptoms brought on by being awake for days at a time.  

Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). A community-based health care provider that receives funds from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) to provide primary care services in underserved areas. FQHCs provide care on a sliding-fee scale based on ability to pay and operate under a governing board that includes patients. Kintegra Health is the FQHC in Gaston County.

Fentanyl – Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, approved for treating severe pain, typically advanced cancer pain. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. However, illegally made fentanyl is sold through illicit drug markets for its heroin-like effect, and it is often mixed with heroin or other drugs, such as cocaine, or pressed in to counterfeit prescription pills.

Heroin – An illegal, highly addictive opioid drug processed from morphine and extracted from certain poppy plants.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). The treatment of Opioid Use Disorder with FDA approved medication such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone.

Methadone. A medication that acts as an opioid in the brain to reduce the desire to use the problem drug.

Methamphetamine – A highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that is also categorized as a psychostimulant. Methamphetamine use has been linked to mental disorders, problems with physical health, violent behavior, and overdose deaths. Methamphetamine is commonly referred to as meth, ice, speed, and crystal, among many other terms.

Naloxone. A short-acting opioid antagonist medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Naltrexone. An opioid antagonist medication that blocks opioids from acting on the brain, taking away the ability to get high from using opioids.

Narcan®. A brand name for the drug naloxone.

 Opiates-Opiates refer to natural opioids such as heroin, morphine and codeine.  

• Synthetic opioids- Synthetic opioids derive from human-made chemicals. These   includes drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone;

Opioid Use Disorder- (OUD). A substance use disorder involving opioids. including drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone.

Outpatient Care- Outpatients receive care in a hospital or recovery center during the day and return home during the evening.  An example, Intensive Outpatient Treatment- initials IOT-Four hours a day, five days a week. Outpatient Treatment– initials OT- Three days, four hours a day. This is contrasted with Inpatient Care,  where someone stays in a hospital or recovery facility overnight.   

 Post Overdose Response Team (PORT). A team that follows up with persons who have experienced an overdose and seeks to link them with appropriate care that may include harm reduction services, treatment, recovery support, and primary healthcare.

Suboxone. A brand-name medication that combines buprenorphine and naloxone. It blunts intoxication by opioids and prevents cravings.