Medication assisted treatment - also known as medically assisted treatment or MAT - is a form of treatment for those who have an addiction to alcohol or opioids. MAT has been instrumental in helping many people with an addiction to successfully recover. If you or someone you love has a substance abuse problem and needs recovery assistance, medication assisted treatment might be an option to consider.
Understanding Medication Assisted Treatment
For someone who struggles with opioid use, detoxification is often a necessary first step towards recovery. While detox is often an uncomfortable process due to painful withdrawal symptoms, medically assisted treatment involves the use of FDA-approved medications to treat those withdrawal symptoms. MAT has been shown to be highly effective and is often the go-to care plan for someone recovering from certain substances.
MAT for Opioid Addiction Recovery
Patients recovering from opioid use disorder often require medication assisted treatment to help remain abstinent. Still the risk of relapsing is high and can be fatal due to how quickly a person’s tolerance level can change. For this reason, the MAT program at Focus Treatment Centers is structured with both medical and clinical components to aid in the post-acute withdrawal symptoms.
There are three medications that have been FDA-approved to treat opioid use disorder. They are:
- Methadone - This medication is best used during medically supervised withdrawal or as a maintenance medication once the individual has been abstinent.
- Naltrexone - This medication can help by preventing a relapse after a patient has successfully gone through medically supervised withdrawal.
- Buprenorphine - This medication is also used during and after medically supervised withdrawal both to help a person stop using opioids and remain abstinent from them.
These medications all have different mechanisms of action, which make them appropriate for the various stages of recovery.
Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone all work by addressing opioid cravings and either eliminating or reducing their severity. These medications will also block the blunt effects of opioid drugs if a person uses them while taking them.
Methadone and buprenorphine are also extremely effective at either eliminating or reducing the effects of opioid withdrawal symptoms, making recovery much easier.
At Focus, patients taking medications to treat opioid use disorder are required to participate in both therapy with a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, as well as optional family therapy for added support. By addressing the underlying issues that led to substance abuse, individuals can increase their chances of preventing future relapses. With medical oversight from our board-certified psychiatrist and nurses, doses are safely monitored and maintained throughout treatment.
MAT Pros and Cons
Medication assisted treatment may not be right for everyone, though studies have shown it to be extremely effective for patients receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and/or opioid use disorder (OUD). Even so, there are always pros and cons to any type of medical treatment. It is important to understand the pros and cons of medically assisted treatment prior to getting started.
The Pros of MAT
People receiving MAT for opioid use disorder may experience the following benefits:
- An easier and smoother withdrawal period due to less or more controlled cravings and symptom relief.
- A smaller risk of dying because of an overdose following an opioid relapse.
- A higher chance of remaining in treatment because of the use of safer medications.
- Relapse prevention when combined with behavioral therapy and counseling for substance abuse.
In addition, individuals in recovery with MAT will find that they no longer have to worry about suffering from the legal consequences of illicit drug or alcohol use. They can also enjoy a better quality of life with their families, friends, and jobs.
The Cons of MAT
Even though medically assisted treatment is often a preferred method of care by addiction treatment specialists, there are some cons to consider.
- Beginning MAT may require close medical supervision in an inpatient setting to ensure the patient’s safety.
- The medications used during medically assisted treatment do have side effects, which can be uncomfortable. However, doctors can and often do prescribe other medications to treat side effects if needed. Many will go away on their own in time.
- Occasionally MAT medications can be abused or misused due to the take-home process of these medications.
- There is no defined timeframe for MAT, and some patients may need to take their prescribed medications for an extended period, even years, to remain abstinent.
How MAT at Focus is Different
At Focus Treatment Centers, we recognize how challenging it can be to recover from any substance. Our MAT program is specifically for opioid addiction and goes beyond the basics of traditional MATs.
- Designed for individuals receiving partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment for an added layer of care
- Injectables are administered onsite, with no take-home medications for controlled care and accountability
- Ongoing individual sessions with board-certified psychiatrists and licensed counselors
- Optional family therapy for additional support
- MAT program completion is an estimated 12-14 months
By using both clinical and medical components, this MAT provides personalized and structured oversight leading to sustainable recovery.
Have questions about our program? Reach out today and get the answers you need.
