Medication-assisted treatment is a combination of FDA-approved medications, plus counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a holistic approach to addressing substance use disorders. During the detoxification process, MAT programs can help wean people off opioids more safely and comfortably, avoiding many of the unpleasant symptoms associated with drug withdrawal. Still, there are many myths and misunderstandings about MAT’s purpose and effectiveness, which we will break down in this post.
What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
MAT provides a comprehensive, individually tailored program of medication and behavioral therapy to address most clients’ needs. In providing medication-assisted treatment, our goal is to end opioid dependence and smooth the path to lifelong recovery.
This treatment approach has effectively:
- Improved our clients’ quality of life and treatment outcomes by significantly reducing withdrawal symptoms
- Ensured more people complete their full stay in long-term addiction treatment
- Decreased illicit opioid abuse and other illegal activities
- Increased people’s ability to get and keep a steady job after leaving our accredited California rehab
- Helped lower relapse rates
What Medications Are Involved in MAT?
The medications we use in MAT are buprenorphine and naltrexone. These work by curbing opioid cravings and creating a more tolerable withdrawal experience than trying to quit cold turkey. These medications restore balance to the reward pathways derailed by opioid use, allowing your brain to recalibrate while you focus on your recovery.
Unfortunately, there’s a persistent misconception that MAT is trading one substance dependence for another, which is not the case. MAT medications are safe for long-term use, and we only administer them in strictly controlled, clinical settings under professional supervision. Doctors must thoroughly screen and assess your candidacy for MAT, customize a treatment plan, monitor your progress and ensure you fully understand what the process will entail. If the initially prescribed regimen isn’t successful for you, we’ll adjust it until it works.
MAT Benefits and Effectiveness
MAT meets the criteria of an evidence-based addiction treatment, which means you can think of it like any other regimen a doctor would prescribe for managing chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Withdrawing from opioids can be highly unpleasant, leaving people feeling ill and too drained to participate in the mental health therapy that must accompany MAT. Having a more comfortable detox will ensure you are medically stable to move on to the next stage of your recovery.
Healing From Substance Abuse in California
At Pillars Recovery, we tailor MAT programs to meet each client’s needs. We believe sobriety is within anyone’s reach, whether you are seeking help for the first time or are returning to rehab to address unmet needs. Our programs that provide medication-assisted treatment include:
Our sole purpose is to help young men and women reclaim their lives from the vicious cycle of substance abuse. The Pillars Recovery team has firsthand experience with the disease of addiction, and we believe everyone deserves the same freedom we’ve discovered. Our location in Orange County, California, provides a serene and stunning coastal environment that is conducive to the recovery journey. We are fully licensed and accredited by the State of California and the Joint Commission. To learn more or verify your health insurance coverage, please contact us today.
