Long-acting injectable medications used to treat substance use disorders, providing sustained release over time are known as?

• A. Depot injections
• B. Oral medications
• C. Transdermal patches
• D. Inhaled medications

Answer: (A)

Depot injections are long-acting injectable medications that release the drug slowly over weeks to months after an intramuscular shot, creating a drug reservoir in the tissue. This sustained release keeps your blood levels steady between doses and helps with adherence, which is especially helpful in treating substance use disorders where daily dosing can be challenging. In practice, these injections are used to maintain consistent therapy with medications like extended-release buprenorphine or naltrexone, given monthly.

The other forms—oral medications taken by mouth, transdermal patches that deliver drug through the skin, and inhaled medications—are not long-acting injectables and do not provide the same sustained release from a single injection.