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Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic, treatable medical condition[1] defined in the DSM-5 by a problematic pattern of opioid use causing significant impairment or distress. It responds to a combination of FDA-approved medication and behavioral therapy. This page explains the criteria, the withdrawal timeline, and the evidence-based treatment options.
OUD is a medical condition, not a moral failing.
Typical acute opioid withdrawal window, longer for some.[2]
Buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone (Vivitrol).
11 defined criteria, graded mild to severe.
Last Reviewed
July 2026
This is educational, not a self-diagnosis tool. Diagnosis requires a licensed clinician; our assessment team can help you understand where you or a loved one stands.
The DSM-5 defines opioid use disorder by 11 criteria over a 12-month period.[3] Meeting 2 to 3 is mild, 4 to 5 moderate, and 6 or more severe. They group into four areas:
Severity is about how many criteria are present, not which opioid or how much. If several sound familiar, the next step is a conversation, not a label.
Opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening on its own, but it is intensely uncomfortable, and that discomfort is a primary driver of relapse and overdose. Short-acting opioids like heroin produce symptoms within 8 to 24 hours that peak in 1 to 3 days, while longer-acting opioids start later and last longer.
Anxiety, agitation, muscle aches, runny nose, sweating, yawning, and insomnia.
Abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, and goosebumps.
Low mood, poor sleep, and cravings that can persist for weeks and need ongoing support.
Dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea can become dangerous, and medically supervised withdrawal sharply reduces relapse and overdose risk.
Fentanyl’s storage in body fat can extend and complicate this course, which is one more reason to withdraw under medical supervision rather than alone.
Medication for opioid use disorder is the standard of care, and it is not a replacement for therapy; it is the foundation that makes therapy possible.[4] At Radix, residents receive both as part of one plan:
Reduces cravings and withdrawal by partially activating opioid receptors without the same high. FDA-approved, and paired with counseling it substantially lowers relapse and overdose risk.
What it does →Blocks opioid effects entirely for people who have already detoxed. FDA-approved, and a strong relapse-prevention tool once withdrawal is complete.
What it does →Cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and integrated dual diagnosis treatment address the cravings, triggers, and underlying conditions that medication alone cannot reach.
Includes →Radix medication management uses medications like buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone (Vivitrol). We do not provide methadone.
These everyday signs mirror the DSM-5 criteria in plain language. They are not a diagnosis, but if several ring true for you or someone you love, it is worth a conversation with our team.
If several of these ring true, it is worth a conversation. Our admissions team can talk it through with you, confidentially.
(319) 270-2890(319) 270-2890Speak With Admissions NowThis page explains the condition. When you are ready for treatment, our opioid addiction program in Cedar Rapids combines FDA-approved medication, therapy, and 24/7 support in one plan. Explore opioid addiction treatment in Iowa →
Opioid recovery is rarely a single step. Radix offers every level of care in Cedar Rapids, so treatment can step down gradually as stability grows.
Most people move through several of these levels. Your care team adjusts the intensity as you progress.
More intensive → Independent living
3 to 7 days of physician-led withdrawal management with 24/7 nursing. Learn about alcohol detox and drug detox in Iowa.
30, 60, or 90-day pathways with structured daily programming. Learn about inpatient rehab in Iowa.
4 to 8 hours of clinical programming daily with off-site living. Learn about PHP in Iowa.
3 days per week, 9 to 20 hours, built around work and family. Learn about IOP in Iowa.
Weekly therapy and relapse prevention. Learn about continuing care in Iowa.
An ongoing community of Radix community members across Iowa. Learn about our alumni program.
Director of Marketing, Radix Recovery
Radix Recovery treats opioid use disorder across the full continuum: medically supervised detox with 24/7 nursing, residential treatment, and step-down PHP, IOP, and continuing care, with medication management using Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) and naltrexone and integrated care for co-occurring conditions. Because opioid withdrawal and overdose risk are serious, our admissions team can move quickly, often same-day.
Radix Recovery provides opioid use disorder treatment in Cedar Rapids, serving individuals and families throughout Eastern Iowa.
Our Location
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Move through the facility one room at a time, the living spaces, the gathering rooms, and the grounds where residents reconnect with themselves.
Radix is a listed treatment provider on Your Life Iowa, the official addiction-help resource run by the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services.
Across the Radix clinical leadership team, from the founding partners to the chief clinical officer.
Across client reviews of admissions, counseling, detox, and residential care.
The national standard for safety, treatment quality, and staff training in healthcare.
Opioid use disorder is the DSM-5 diagnosis for a problematic pattern of opioid use, whether prescription painkillers, heroin, or illicit fentanyl, that causes significant impairment or distress. Leading medical bodies describe it as a chronic, treatable brain condition rather than a lack of willpower.
The DSM-5 lists 11 criteria over a 12-month period covering impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological signs (tolerance and withdrawal). Meeting 2 to 3 is mild, 4 to 5 moderate, and 6 or more severe.
The FDA-approved options used at Radix are buprenorphine (including Suboxone), which reduces cravings and withdrawal, and naltrexone (Vivitrol), which blocks opioid effects after detox. Paired with counseling, these substantially lower relapse and overdose risk.
It depends on the opioid. Short-acting opioids like heroin cause symptoms within 8 to 24 hours that peak in 1 to 3 days; longer-acting opioids start later and last longer, and fentanyl can extend the course. Cravings and low mood may persist for weeks.
Opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening by itself, but dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea can become dangerous, and the intense discomfort drives relapse and overdose. Medically supervised detox sharply reduces those risks.
Physical dependence (tolerance and withdrawal) can occur with appropriately prescribed opioids and does not by itself mean a disorder. Opioid use disorder additionally involves impaired control, compulsive use, and continued use despite harm.
It is a chronic condition that is managed rather than cured, much like other chronic illnesses. With medication, therapy, and ongoing support, many people achieve lasting recovery and full, healthy lives.
Yes. Radix treats OUD across the full continuum in Cedar Rapids, with Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) and naltrexone medication management, integrated dual diagnosis care, and same-day admission when appropriate. Our admissions team is available 24/7.
Opioid use disorder is treatable, and the most effective care combines medication with therapy. Reach out to Radix Recovery in Cedar Rapids to take the first step, any time.