Withdrawal management alone is not an effective treatment for opioid use disorder, and offering this as a standalone option to patients is neither sufficient nor appropriate.

As will be reviewed in detail below, rates of dropout and relapse to opioid use are high, regardless of treatment modality used.298-300 Furthermore, the risks of serious harms, including fatal and non-fatal overdose and HIV and hepatitis C transmission, are higher for individuals who have recently completed withdrawal management compared to individuals who receive no treatment.79,167,301 To support informed decision making, patients who request withdrawal management alone should be provided with clear, concise information about the known risks to personal and public safety, and be engaged in supportive, constructive discussion about safer treatment options. Withdrawal management alone is not recommended.