Glossary

Suboxone (Buprenorphine): Approved by the FDA in 2002 as a medication treatment for opioid dependence, Suboxone contains the active ingredients of buprenorphine hydrochloride and naloxone. The mixture of agonist and antagonist is intended to reduce craving while preventing misuse of the medication.

Substance Use Disorder: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and mental health affect people from all walks of life and all age groups. These illnesses are common, recurrent, and often serious, but they are treatable and many people do recover. Substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. Mental disorders involve changes in thinking, mood, and/or behavior. These disorders can affect how we relate to others and make choices. Reaching a level that can be formally diagnosed often depends on a reduction in a person’s ability to function as a result of the disorder. .

Synthetic: Made synthetically or entirely from chemicals, and not made as a derivative of the original substance or plant (e.g. the opium poppy, marijuana plant, etc.) Examples of synthetic drugs include: carfentanil/carfentanyl, sufentanil, fentanyl, spice, bath salts, & herbal incense.

Syringe Service Programs (SSPs): Syringe services programs (SSPs) are community-based prevention programs that can provide a range of services, including linkage to substance use disorder treatment; access to and disposal of sterile syringes and injection equipment; and vaccination, testing, and linkage to care and treatment for infectious diseases.

Taper: Tapering is the practice in pharmacotherapy of lowering the dose of medication incrementally over time to help prevent or reduce any adverse experiences as the patient's body makes adjustments and adapts to lower and lower doses.

Tertiary prevention: Tertiary Prevention are services provided after a problem has been identified and diagnosed. It involves educating parents, SUD and mental health treatment and recovery services, and overdose prevention efforts such as harm reduction.  

Titration: Titration is the progressive or gradual increase in drug dosage to reach an optimal therapeutic outcome.

Tolerance: Tolerance is reduced response to a drug with repeated use.

Treatment: The management and care of a patient to combat a disease or disorder. Can take the form of medicines, procedures, or counseling and psychotherapy.

Trigger: A specific stimulus that sets off a memory or flashback, transporting the individual back to a feeling, experience, or event which may increase susceptibility to psychological or physical symptom recurrence and reinstatement of substance use disorder.