In opioid use disorder treatment, which approach uses medications to replace opioids to ease withdrawal and cravings?

• A. Opioid replacement therapy
• B. Physical dependence
• C. Potency
• D. Paradoxical drug effect

Answer: (A)

Replacing opioids with a medically supervised opioid medication is opioid replacement therapy. By using a longer-acting opioid such as methadone or a partial agonist like buprenorphine, this approach prevents withdrawal and steadily reduces cravings, helping the person stabilize and engage in counseling and other supports. It’s designed to lower the risk of relapse and overdose compared with unmanaged opioid use. Other terms listed relate to withdrawal states (physical dependence), drug strength (potency), or unexpected drug reactions (paradoxical effects) and do not describe this replacement-based treatment strategy.