Effects of simulated and real opioid withdrawal on delay discounting for opioids and money in people who use fentanyl daily.

= 17) simulated opioid withdrawal via verbal instructions to outpatient participants. All participants completed five-trial, adjusting delay discounting tasks for money and opioid pills. Linear mixed models revealed steeper rates of discounting of delayed opioid pills during opioid withdrawal, regardless of withdrawal manipulation modality (real or simulated). Delay discounting for money was steeper in the simulated withdrawal group only, potentially reflecting pre-existing group differences in the sensitivity of money discounting during withdrawal. These results are consistent with prior research and support the use of simulated withdrawal as an effective experimental proxy in decision-making studies when real withdrawal manipulations are not feasible or warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).