A reduction in cravings ahs been seen in people undergoing the drug buprenorphine addiction-treatment. People who are opioid-dependent if given low but continuous dose of the medication can be saved from the risk of relapse even after missing doses of buprenorphine. This is likely to have the same effect even after the dosage is stopped.

This under-the-tongue treatment can help patients addicted to heroin or prescription painkillers, to a great extent. A research was carried out by Dr. Walter Ling, from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his colleagues. The study involved 163 adults, aged 18 and 65 between the years 2007 and 2008.

The report suggested "In summary, this study found that the use of buprenorphine implants compared with placebo resulted in less opioid use over 16 weeks and also across the full 24 weeks”.

The U. S. National Institute on Drug Abuse stated that for all the opioid addicted patients, the best way to deal with the addiction was by following both behavioral and pharmacological treatments.

While the Behavioral treatment would help them cope without the use of drugs, the other drugs would help them find a way out. Drugs such as naltrexone, methadone and buprenorphine are often used for the medicinal treatment of such addicts.