How Do I Educate Patients About Opioid Dependence?
One of the first things you can do to help is to inform the patient that opioid dependence is a medical condition with a behavioral component. It’s important to tell them that it is a disease, not a symptom of a moral failing or being a bad person. Learning that opioid dependence is a medical condition can help elevate the patient’s self-esteem and help the patient understand the appropriateness of taking medication for the illness.
