A medication-assisted treatment program gives you access to FDA-approved medications alongside therapy and counseling.
This approach helps people with substance use disorders, especially opioid use disorder (OUD), find a path toward recovery using proven medical and behavioral methods.
Medication-assisted treatment combines prescription medicines with behavioral therapies. You receive medications that are used together with therapy or counseling.
The core idea is to give you a ‘whole-person’ approach. Treatment is not just about stopping drug use; it supports both your body and mind.
This treatment is tailored to your needs and may change as your recovery progresses. MAT can use different medications depending on your behavioral health needs.
Each works differently and can be chosen based on your health and history. You might get one as a daily pill or sometimes as a monthly injection.
MAT is especially useful for treating opioid use disorder, including addiction to prescription painkillers and heroin, and it is also sometimes used for alcohol use disorder.
Behavioral counseling is an important part of MAT. Counseling helps you change habits, handle stress, and learn new ways to stay healthy.
Combining medication and counseling targets both physical and emotional reasons behind addiction.
You do not have to choose between medication and therapy. The two work best together. If you have tried to quit on your own without success, MAT may give you a better chance for lasting recovery.
MAT can lower your risk of overdose. With the right medication, you may see fewer withdrawal symptoms like nausea, anxiety, or pain. This can help you focus on recovery instead of fighting cravings every day.
Studies show that MAT is linked to higher treatment retention and fewer relapses. The risk of returning to drug use drops a lot with MAT, compared to no medicines at all. This allows you to maintain employment, repair relationships, and regain control over your life.
MAT is a safe option if used as directed by health professionals. It gives you ongoing support, not just a quick fix.
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder uses different medicines that work in specific ways. These medications for opioid use have been approved to help reduce cravings, prevent withdrawal, and support long-term recovery.
Methadone is a full opioid agonist that works by binding to the same receptors in your brain as other opioids, but without the intense high. This helps stop withdrawal symptoms, making it easier for you to stop using opioids.
You usually take methadone as a liquid once a day, but sometimes it comes in tablet or wafer form. Its effects can last 24-36 hours, so you do not need to take it many times a day. Methadone needs to be given at a specialized clinic, and medical staff will check your dose and progress.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. This means it attaches to opioid receptors but does not activate them as strongly as full opioids, which limits the chance of feeling high or overdosing.
You may get buprenorphine as a tablet, film, or under-the-tongue medication. Sublocade is an extended-release form of buprenorphine that can be given monthly via injection.
Naltrexone is an opioid receptor blocker, also called an opioid antagonist. It works by stopping opioids from having an effect if you use them again. This helps lower the risk that you will relapse.
You can get naltrexone as a pill you take every day or as Vivitrol, an intramuscular injection whose effects last for roughly a month. Before starting naltrexone, you must be off opioids for at least 7-10 days to avoid withdrawal.
Medication-assisted treatment can reduce opioid cravings, help manage withdrawal, and lower relapse risk. You can find support from both medicine and counseling, making recovery more structured and sustainable.
Opioid use disorder describes a condition where you may use opioids even when they cause health or social problems. OUD can involve legal and illegal drugs, like prescription painkillers, heroin, and fentanyl. Signs include strong cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal if you stop.
Treatment for OUD often includes the specific medications approved by the FDA. These medicines aim to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms so you can focus on other parts of addiction treatment.
Besides medication, therapy and counseling play a key role in MAT for OUD. These approaches give you new ways to handle stress, cravings, and triggers. Counseling can be done one-on-one or in group settings.
Types of therapies include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to teach you how to recognize risky thoughts and behaviors, motivational interviewing (MI) to help you find reasons for change and stick with treatment, and dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT) to manage overwhelming emotions.
Integrating medication and therapy is often more effective than using only one approach. This means you’ll get medicines to manage symptoms along with therapy to help change behaviors.
Integrated treatment plans are personalized. For example, you might receive methadone and regular group counseling, while someone else might use buprenorphine with weekly therapy sessions. These plans adjust as your needs change over time.
Medication-assisted treatment is an evidence-based way to manage opioid use disorder. It uses medication and therapy together to help with withdrawal, reduce overdose risk, and support healthy brain function.
MAT can greatly lower your risk of overdose. Medications like methadone and buprenorphine make it less likely you will use other opioids again, which reduces the risk of taking too much and overdosing.
MAT lowers cravings, so the chance of relapse goes down. Medications also block or lessen the effect of opioids if you do use them, so you’re not as tempted to use them. Opioid overdose deaths also decrease when MAT is available.
Withdrawal can be severe and push you back to drug use. MAT uses medications to help you manage these symptoms safely and with less pain. With proper dosing, your body adjusts smoothly without the intense ups and downs of quitting opioids suddenly.
This makes it easier to focus on counseling and regaining control of your life. You do not have to go through withdrawal without support. Your care team tracks your progress to adjust your plan as needed, supporting you every step of the way.
Opioid addiction changes the way your brain works. Over time, it is harder for you to feel normal, even if you want to stop using drugs. MAT can help restore balance by acting on the same brain pathways as opioids but without the effects. This helps stabilize your mood and impulses.
With regular use under supervision, these medicines give your brain time to heal. This reduces cravings, improves thinking, and supports your return to normal activities and relationships.
Medication assisted treatment is not only used for opioid addiction. MAT may also help with alcohol use disorder and some other substance use disorders. Medications can work alongside counseling to improve your chances of recovery.
If you struggle with alcohol use disorder, certain medications may reduce cravings and help you avoid drinking. Common treatments include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. These medicines work in different ways.
Naltrexone reduces the pleasure you feel when you drink alcohol. Acamprosate helps restore balance to your brain and can lower the desire to drink. Disulfiram creates unpleasant effects if you drink while taking the drug, helping deter alcohol use.
MAT is mainly used for opioid and alcohol dependence, but there’s growing research into using it for other drug problems, like stimulant or cannabis use disorders. Presently, there are no approved treatment medications for substances such as cocaine or methamphetamine.
Some people may still get support with MAT for other addictions, such as combining antidepressants or anti-anxiety medicines with therapy. These treatments can address problems that often go along with addiction, like depression or anxiety.
Medication assisted treatment for substance use disorders is often one part of the recovery process. It can be an essential part that can help you get through detox and prevent relapse, but it’s also often used in conjunction with other approaches.
At Luxe Recovery, we will use a variety of approaches in substance use disorder treatment, including medications. Our approach will always center on what you need in your recovery and what you want out of treatment.
The most widely used medications for opioid addiction are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Each of these works differently in the brain to lower cravings and withdrawal symptoms. These options help people stay in treatment and avoid relapse.
MAT makes it easier to manage withdrawal and cravings, so you have a better chance of staying in recovery programs. Adding counseling and behavioral therapy to medication support increases the likelihood of maintaining recovery over time.
As with any medication, there can be side effects. These may include nausea, constipation, sweating, or sleep problems, depending on the medication used. You will be monitored by your care team to manage any risks and adjust treatment as needed.
Yes, some medications used in MAT are approved for treating alcohol dependence. Common examples include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. These can help reduce the urge to drink or make drinking less rewarding.
You may be considered for MAT if you have a diagnosed substance use disorder and meet certain health requirements. Factors include your history with addiction, current health status, and any previous attempts at recovery. A healthcare provider will assess your needs before starting treatment.
The timeline varies depending on each person’s needs. Some people may use MAT for several months to stabilize, while others benefit from long-term or even lifelong use. The goal is to reduce cravings, prevent relapse, and support recovery, so treatment length is tailored to ensure lasting progress and stability.
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