Opiate Addiction Treatment by Telehealth
Physician-led opiate addiction treatment by telehealth. FDA-approved medications including buprenorphine and Suboxone — no clinic visit required. Serving California, Washington, and Nevada.
Get StartedOpiate addiction — known clinically as opioid use disorder — is a treatable medical condition, not a question of willpower. Rezolv Health treats it the way the evidence says it should be treated: with FDA-approved medication, physician oversight, and zero requirement to sit in a waiting room. Care is delivered by secure video visit across California, Washington, and Nevada.
What opiate addiction actually is
The words "opiate" and "opioid" are used interchangeably by most people. Strictly, opiates are the compounds derived directly from the poppy plant — morphine, codeine, heroin — while opioids is the broader term that also includes synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl. Clinically, the addiction they produce is the same condition, and it is diagnosed as opioid use disorder.
Opioid use disorder is defined by a pattern of use that continues despite mounting harm: relationships strained, obligations missed, health declining, and repeated attempts to cut back that do not hold. What separates it from casual misuse is that the behavior is no longer fully under voluntary control. The condition has a recognized diagnostic standard, a known biological mechanism, and — critically — established medical treatments.
How opioids change the brain and body
Opioids work by attaching to receptors that normally respond to the body's own pain-regulating chemicals. With repeated exposure, the brain compensates: it dials down its natural production and resets its baseline so that the drug is required simply to feel normal. This is physical dependence, and it develops in everyone who uses opioids regularly — including patients taking them exactly as prescribed for pain.
Dependence on its own is not addiction. Addiction is the additional layer in which the brain's motivation and reward circuitry is hijacked, so that obtaining and using the drug overrides other priorities. When the drug leaves the system, the down-regulated brain produces withdrawal — bone-deep aches, nausea, sweating, anxiety, insomnia, and an overwhelming drive to use again. The severity of withdrawal is one of the main reasons people who genuinely want to stop find it nearly impossible to do so unaided.
Why medication is the standard of care
Decades of research point in one direction: medication-assisted treatment produces far better outcomes than detox or counseling alone. Medications that stabilize the opioid receptors quiet withdrawal and cravings, which frees a person to rebuild work, relationships, and health rather than spending each day managing the next wave of sickness.
The two medications Rezolv Health uses most for opioid use disorder are buprenorphine and the buprenorphine-naloxone combination sold under the brand name Suboxone. Both calm the receptor system without producing the dangerous highs and respiratory depression of full opioids. If you want the pharmacology in depth, see our buprenorphine treatment page; if you are specifically researching the Suboxone brand, our Suboxone treatment page covers it in detail.
Counseling, peer support, and lifestyle change all add value — but as additions to medication, not substitutes for it. Treating opioid use disorder without medication is like treating a seizure disorder with talk therapy and no anticonvulsant.
What treatment looks like at Rezolv Health
You begin with an online intake describing your history and current use. A licensed physician reviews it, then meets you over secure video for a first appointment to confirm the diagnosis and agree on a medication plan. If medication is appropriate, the prescription goes electronically to a pharmacy you choose, usually the same day. After that, brief periodic video visits keep your dose right and your progress on track. No clinic lobbies, no daily dosing lines, no disruption to your job or family.
Availability by state
| State | Insurance | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| California | Private pay — see California pricing | Telehealth statewide |
| Washington | All insurance accepted, including Medicare and TRICARE | Telehealth statewide + in-person University Place |
| Nevada | All insurance including Medicaid | Telehealth statewide + in-person Reno |
Frequently asked questions
Is opiate addiction a disease or a choice? It is a recognized medical condition affecting the brain's reward and motivation systems. The first use is a choice; the compulsive use that defines addiction is driven by changes in brain function that are not under simple voluntary control. This is why medical treatment, not moral effort, is what reliably works.
Can opiate addiction be treated without going to rehab? Yes. Most people with opioid use disorder are treated successfully as outpatients with medication and periodic check-ins. Residential rehab is one option among many, and for a large share of patients, telehealth medication management is more practical and just as effective.
What medications treat opiate addiction? The first-line options are buprenorphine (including the Suboxone formulation) and methadone, both of which stabilize opioid receptors, plus naltrexone, which blocks them. Rezolv Health prescribes buprenorphine-based treatment; methadone for addiction is only dispensed through federally licensed clinics.
How quickly will medication stop the withdrawal and cravings? Most patients feel withdrawal ease within the first day or two of starting buprenorphine, and cravings typically diminish over the first week or two as the dose is optimized. Your physician adjusts the dose based on how you respond.
Will I be trading one addiction for another? No. Properly dosed buprenorphine does not produce a high or interfere with daily functioning; it restores the receptor balance opioids disrupted. Needing a medication to stay well is dependence, which is medically routine, not addiction.
Do I have to stop using before my first appointment? No. You do not need to be abstinent to begin care, and you should not feel you must "clean up" before reaching out. Your physician will guide the timing of when and how to start medication safely based on what you are currently using.
Is my treatment confidential? Yes. Your care is protected under federal health privacy law, including the additional protections that apply specifically to substance use disorder records. In California, because the program is private pay, no insurance claim is generated at all.
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