Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an integrative medicine-based approach which addiction counselors use to address patient needs as a whole. It is the combination of using behavioral and counseling therapies when treating substance use disorders, or SUD’s.
The purpose of MAT is to aid people in recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. This is done through a patient-centered approach to medicine and healing. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a substance abuse treatment program that helps patients access the tools they need throughout the course of addiction.
Utilizing MAT strategies helps patients stop drug abuse in favor of healthier coping strategies. It does this by minimizing the effects of withdrawal, blocking alcohol cravings, improving mental health, and stabilizing moods. MAT helps to stabalize a patients short-term, as well as treat long-term drug and alcohol abuse.
Medications used for Alcohol SUD’s
- Naltrexone helps people reduce or stop drinking by hindering the effects of alcohol. This medication blocks the parts of their brain which allow them to feel pleasure or euphoria.
Stopping alcohol use as a coping mechanism not only motivates patients to remain in treatment but prevents relapse during recovery.
- Acamprosate is not only used in detox treatment but can be prescribed to patients who are in recovery.
This medication helps reduce the desire for alcohol and assists patients remain in recovery. It does not however reduce the effects of withdrawal symptoms when a person does drink alcohol.
- Disulfiram specifically targets alcohol addiction and chronic alcohol use. Disulfiram helps reduce cravings by producing feelings of nausea when a patient drinks alcohol. It is primarily used after detox and when a patient is in the beginning stages of sobriety.
Opioid Substance Abuse Disorder Medications
- Buprenorphine helps treat pain as well as opioid use disorder, or the addiction and dependence on opioids. It helps reduce withdrawal symptoms, blocks the effects of other opioids, and also reduces cravings.
- Methadone helps block the side effects and symptoms of withdrawal and reduces opioid cravings. Methadone helps with pain managment for patients who seek to take back their life after suffering through substance abuse.
- Naltrexone use is to help with opioid substance abuse disorder as a preventative measure. Patients can stay in recovery as well as reduce life-threatening risks associated with withdrawal symptoms long-term.
Behavioral and Counseling Therapies Included in MAT
Counseling and addiction therapy also provides patients support throughout their journey in recovery. Managing symptoms, addressing trauma-induced stressors, and preventing relapse, all fall under MAT’s.
Services Associated with MAT Therapies:
- Medication Management
- Education Intervention
- Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment
- Outpatient Services
Substance abuse treatment programs include family members in therapy sessions and favor support groups as a way to reinforce patient-centered care. Identifying substance use triggers, building coping skills to avoid relapse, and learning how to engage in healthy activities can replace substance abuse.
How to Find Help Today
Addiction recovery is a long journey, however you are not alone. At Harm Reduction Center, taking the first steps to recovery is possible with our personalized support services and tailored therapies.
We offer comprehensive treatment services as well as Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) to help you or your loved one on the journey to recovery. We offer many levels of care for both in-patient and out-patient services and provide support in every step of recovery.
Our expert staff has years of experience in substance abuse and mental health care, drawing from personal as well as professional experience. We work closely with family members in order to connect and reach patients on a deeper level. Our mission is to empower those who suffer from addiction through comprehensive treatment through integrity perseverance. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, there is help at Harm Reduction Center.
