Injectable Medications Are Changing Care for Opioid Use Disorder
Crossroads Treatment Centers has expanded treatment options for opioid use disorder (OUD) with injectable medications, including injectable buprenorphine. Medication-assisted treatment isn’t new, but giving a steady dose by injection can make a real difference for people who struggle to take a pill every day. Fewer daily decisions. Fewer missed doses. More room to focus on recovery.
An Approach Built for Real Life
Dr. James Stephen, Chief Medical Officer at Crossroads, explains, "These safe, effective, and powerful medications continue to transform the treatment of opioid use disorder, offering a convenient and reliable way to deliver consistent steady state doses of medication to thousands of patients in recovery, helping them lead productive and healthy lives." In practical terms, that means injections given weekly or monthly to maintain a stable level of medication—enough to curb cravings and ease withdrawal—without the daily stop-and-start of traditional methods.
Reducing Barriers to Recovery
Recent data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that more than 6 million people have faced OUD in recent years, yet only 18.3% received medication-assisted treatment. That gap is the barrier. Crossroads aims to close it by offering options that are easier to start and simpler to keep up with, especially for people who’ve had trouble sticking to daily medication routines.
Care That Wraps Around the Medicine
Injectable medications work best as part of a broader plan. Crossroads pairs them with counseling, behavioral therapies, and other supports tailored to each person’s needs. Medication can steady the ground; therapy and support help you move forward. Together, they keep people engaged in care and remind us that recovery is more than a prescription—it’s a plan you can live with.
Why Injectables Help
Injectable medications for OUD offer several concrete advantages:
- Reduced risk of abuse: Because doses are administered by a clinician and last a week or a month, there’s far less opportunity for misuse or tampering compared to daily pills.
- Greater convenience: Fewer office visits and no daily dosing make schedules more flexible and less stressful.
- Stronger engagement in care: With medication on board and no daily pill to manage, attention can shift to counseling, coping skills, and support—what sustains recovery day to day.
About Crossroads Treatment Centers
Founded in 2005, Crossroads Treatment Centers supports people with substance use disorder (SUD) through more than 100 centers across nine states. Their teams—doctors, nurse practitioners, and counselors—focus on accessible, high-quality care when and where it’s needed most.
Creating Paths to Recovery
At the core of Crossroads’ work is a personalized plan that blends evidence-based medication-assisted treatments with behavioral health therapies. This multifaceted approach has been shown to deliver lifesaving results and meaningful improvements in quality of life—for patients, for their families, for their communities. One steady step, then the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are injectable medications for opioid use disorder?
They’re medications—such as injectable buprenorphine—given weekly or monthly to manage cravings and withdrawal. The steady dose helps stabilize recovery without the need for a daily pill.
Why are injectable medications considered beneficial?
They lower the risk of misuse, cut down on daily decisions about dosing, and free up time and energy for counseling and other supports that reinforce recovery.
How does Crossroads Treatment Centers support recovery?
Crossroads builds comprehensive treatment plans that combine injectable medications with counseling, behavioral therapies, and additional supports tailored to each person’s needs.
What is the goal of medication-assisted treatment?
The goal is to reduce cravings and withdrawal so you can engage in the full recovery plan—therapy, skills, and support—without being pulled back by symptoms.
Who can benefit from injectable treatments?
People with opioid use disorder who find daily medication hard to manage—or who prefer fewer office visits and a steady dose—may benefit from weekly or monthly injections.
