It is important for nurses not working in the area of addictions to be informed of the diagnosis and treatment of opioid use disorder so that they may serve as a resource, educate others, and influence and refer individuals to seek treatment on the basis of best evidence. In this article, we provide an overview of the postscreening diagnosis and treatment of opioid use disorders with an emphasis on medication-assisted treatment, starting with the definition of substance use disorder, tolerance, dependence, and addiction.
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