If opioid use or an existing opioid-use diagnosis is part of your care, you may have questions about treatment, stigma, overdose prevention, or access. Medication can be part of appropriate treatment. This page helps prepare a conversation with a qualified clinician.
How to use this page
Use your actual care situation. Do not start, stop, combine, or adjust medication or attempt withdrawal based on this worksheet.
Identify the care question
Name what you want explained about treatment options, how prescribed care fits your goals, or a concern that makes participation difficult. Include other medicines and substances in the clinical conversation.
Plan access and prevention support
Ask about follow-up, transport, cost, pharmacy or service access, and appropriate naloxone education. If you have a current plan, clarify who to contact when a problem arises.
Reflection prompts
Use these questions in conversation, on paper, or in the downloaded PDF. You may adapt or skip a prompt.
What opioid-related health or treatment question matters most?
What would I like explained about medication or other care options?
What practical barrier could interrupt my care?
Who should I contact for treatment problems or overdose-prevention information?
Facilitator notes and adaptation
Support evidence-based medication treatment without suggesting that it invalidates recovery. Assess overdose risk, polysubstance use, withdrawal concerns, and current safety. Do not provide induction, tapering, dosing, or substitution instructions; suspected overdose requires emergency action.
Sources behind the concepts
These sources inform the concepts in this original resource. They do not validate or endorse this specific page.