Decision Aid

DecisionAid

Welcome!

English

Русский

Yкраї́нська

This tool is designed to help people who have problems with opioids make the best decisions for themselves.

This tool is anonymous – we will not collect any identifying information. It is just here to help you better understand the options available and choose options for treatment that are best the end of this exercise, there will be finding that you can share with your doctor, a family member or keep for yourself.

First, we need to complete a brief assessment of how you use drugs to help decide the options best for you. In the past year, how often have you used any type of opioid (e.g., shirka, street methadone, heroin, Subutex/buprenorphine, or morphine?

Survey ID *

SYREX code

In the past year, how often have you used any type of opioid (e.g., shirka, street methadone, heroin, Subutex/buprenorphine, or morphine?

Did you ever need to use more opioids to get the same high as when you first started using opioids?

Yes

Did the idea of missing a fix (or dose) ever make you anxious or worried?

Yes

In the morning, did you ever use opioids to keep from felling “dope sick” or did you ever feel “dope sick”?

Yes

Did you worry about your use of opioids?

Yes

Did you find it difficult to stop or not use opioids?

Yes

Did you ever need to spend a lot of time/energy on finding opioids or recovering from feeling high?

Yes

Did you ever miss important things like doctor’s appointments, family/friend activities, or other things because of opioids?

Yes

What does treatment for opioid use disorder look like?

Using medications has the best record for success.

Compared to all other options, including continuing to use opioids not prescribed by your doctor medications prescribed by your doctor to treat opioid problems are taken for extended periods of time, potentially indefinitely, and provide the most most short-term and long-term benefits. Most people should stay on medication for at least 3-5 years to gain the best positive health outcomes.

Immediate effects from taking prescribed medications, especially if prescribed the right dose, will calm the body’s system by stopping the symptoms of withdrawal (abstinence syndrome) and decreasing cravings but also block the symptoms of “getting high”.

As your dose increases, over time, a prescribed medication:

helps you STOP or significantly REDUCE by 60%-80% your use of illegal opioids
reduces over 3-fold the risk of death from overdose
reduces problems with the legal system (arrest by police or placement in SIZO or prison)
improves your physical and mental health
helps prevent transmission of HIV and HCV infections to you and to others
increases the likelihood that you will become employed or keep your current employment
increases the likelihood that you will be able to take better care of your health
helps you enjoy things that matter to you and improve your quality of life and your relationships with friends and family life

What kind of medications are there?

Currently there are different types of medications proven to help you long term: Methadone; and Buprenorphine and buprenorphine-naloxone. There are other medications, like Vivitrol that is a monthly injection, but it does not have the same benefits as observed with the other two medications that are available.

Where can you get medications?

Public narcology clinics (governmental?)
Private narcology clinics, that are legal and regulated by the government
“Entrepreneur” private clinics that are not regulated by the government

Expectation for Treatment Duration and Stopping

Most people need to stay in treatment for at least 3-5 years. This can be different for different people. If you have had opioid use disorder for a longer period of time, it may take a longer period of treatment to allow your brain to heal.

If you and your doctor decide it is time to end treatment, this can be done slowly with close monitoring so that you will not experience any symptoms that make you feel sick

Currently, there are four pathways that you can take to address your current situation with opioids. Before we go through the available information available, please select what you think is the best pathway for you – after which we will provide accurate information and see if your preference now is the same as the one that meets your needs as you describe them: Please select:

How strong is your preference for this selection?

Weak Moderate Strong

Different medications have different responses. What is an acceptable level of continued drug use in response to my treatment over the next several months?

25%

50%