If you or a loved one is navigating life with opioid use disorder (OUD), recognizing the signs of use and overdose can be lifesaving. But just as important is understanding what remission (when symptoms are under control) and recovery (the ongoing process of improving health and well-being) may look like.

If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with opioid use disorder, talk to a healthcare provider. They can perform a substance use evaluation, discuss treatment options, and connect you with resources to support your path to recovery and remission.

What Is Recovery?

What do people mean when they talk about someone with opioid use disorder being in recovery or remission?

Most of the time, when people refer to being in recovery from an addiction like opioid use disorder, they’re saying that they believe they’re on the right path. This does not necessarily mean that they believe they’re “cured.”

Addiction is considered a chronic condition, meaning there is no definitive “cure.” Many people in recovery focus on long-term management rather than thinking in terms of being “cured” or “fully recovered.” They see their addiction as a pattern of behavior that they participate in when they feel stressed, overwhelmed, or helpless. Once they understand these patterns, they can learn to control their behavior. However, they may never live without feeling a pull toward their old patterns when they’re in those emotionally vulnerable places.

What Is Remission?

Remission is a key part in recovery. It typically means that the signs and symptoms of opioid use disorder are no longer present, though cravings may still occur.

Some treatment programs, therapists, psychiatry experts, or other medical staff who work with people living with OUD may put people in different categories of remission based on how long remission has lasted. This is similar to how alcohol use disorder is classified. For example, a person who has not used opioids for 12 months may be considered in stable remission.

While these are more technical definitions of these terms, they’re often used to mean the same thing: that a person who once qualified for a diagnosis of opioid use disorder no longer meets the criteria for that diagnosis.

Remission generally means that a person who once qualified for a diagnosis of opioid use disorder no longer meets the criteria for that diagnosis.

7 Signs of Opioid Use Disorder in Remission

Several signs can indicate that a person’s opioid use disorder is in remission. Many of these signs reflect a reversal of the behavioral, physical, and psychological changes that occurred during active opioid use. As opioid use stops, many of these symptoms fade, and the person regains stability in different areas of life.

1. No Longer Using Opioids

A person in remission from opioid use disorder will no longer use opioids. This means that they would no longer focus their lives on trying to get opioids, won’t spend time and money on them, and may actively ask doctors for non-opioid pain management options when needed for acute or chronic pain.

2. Fewer Opioid Cravings

Managing cravings is one of the most difficult aspects of recovering from opioid dependence. Cravings are often the main factor that raises a person’s risk of relapse. However, cravings typically decrease as a person spends more time in remission.

Maintenance therapy with medication-assisted treatment and drugs such as buprenorphine, naltrexone, or methadone can help address cravings. Certain types of psychotherapy can also help one cope with cravings. These treatments can be necessary even if you or a loved one are actively trying to learn new patterns and not use opioids. Cravings alone do not mean a person is using opioids, but they can increase the likelihood of relapse, so having strategies in place to cope with them is important.

Maintenance therapy with medication-assisted treatment and drugs such as buprenorphine, naltrexone, or methadone can help address cravings.

3. Coping With Opioid Cravings and Other Stressors

Cravings and emotional stress can trigger a return to drug use, so a person in remission develops healthier coping strategies. This may involve using the skills and tools that they learned in rehab or therapy, rather than turning to opioids to feel better.

4. Having a Stable Living Situation

A stable, safe living environment supports long-term recovery. Finding a consistent, secure place to live helps reduce stress and avoid triggers that could lead to relapse. This stability also reflects a commitment to their future and well-being.

Housing insecurity can be a challenge for some people in remission. If housing is unstable, seeking support from local organizations or recovery programs may help.

5. Having Good Relationships

Developing supportive personal relationships can help support recovery. Pursuing relationships like these often means that a person is investing their time and energy in their recovery. Supportive relationships can be with family, close friends, or significant others.

6. Reengaging in Daily Activities

When a person is in remission from OUD, as with many substance use disorders, they’ll often go back to participating in activities of daily life. This can mean going back to work or school and attending regularly or investing in their family’s lives again. It may also look like volunteering for causes that are important to them and taking time for creative pursuits.

7. Finding Meaning and Purpose

Beyond resuming daily activities, a person in remission seeks meaning in life. This can look different for everyone — some find fulfillment in their career, creative expression, caregiving, or supporting causes they believe in. Engaging in meaningful activities reinforces a sense of self beyond substance use and supports lasting recovery.

Maintain Treatment To Maintain Remission

People in remission from opioid use disorder are trying to change deeply rooted patterns and behaviors. This can take a long time to achieve. Thus, you or your loved one needs to continue with their opioid treatment plan even after the point of active drug use and physical dependence.

Recovery from opioid use disorder can take a long time. You or your loved one must continue the treatment plan even after the point of active drug use.

Different treatment plans will include different options. A healthcare provider or addiction specialist can help determine the best long-term approach. Some ideas include:

• Staying away from tempting situations
• Reaching out to a therapist or a trusted friend when struggling
• Following the relapse prevention plan created during active recovery
• Attending support groups focused on long-term sobriety
• Building and maintaining positive relationships that offer support and encouragement
• Reconnecting with activities that once brought joy, purpose, or motivation

These strategies can support recovery and may help reduce the risk of relapse, though relapse is a common part of the recovery process and does not mean failure. If you do relapse, returning to these actions can support your path back to remission.

Talk to a Doctor if You’re Concerned

If you’re concerned about opioid use disorder in yourself or a loved one, reach out to a doctor as soon as possible. They can assess symptoms, provide a diagnosis, and connect you with effective treatment options in your area.

A healthcare provider can also offer ongoing medical guidance throughout treatment and recovery, helping to support long-term well-being. Additionally, they can provide resources and support for family members navigating a loved one’s recovery journey.

Connect With Others Who Understand

MyDepressionTeam is the social network for people with depression, other related mental health conditions, and their loved ones. There, more than 149,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with depression and related mental health conditions.

Have you or a loved one experienced opioid use disorder in remission? What signs of recovery were the most important for you? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.