Medication Assisted Treatment
Proven treatment for addiction.
MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT)
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is an addiction treatment approach that combines behavioral counseling with stabilizing medication. It is not a prescription for medication alone. Instead, the focus is on counseling through individualized custom patient care under the guidance of a medical doctor who addresses the cravings and withdrawal symptoms of the patient.
Medication Assisted Treatment is a low-cost option when compared to the high cost of continued illegal drug use, inpatient or residential treatment, or the high relapse rates associated with programs that do not work for the individual.
The most effective treatment program is one that combines medication with a range of other services such as medical, behavioral and social counseling in order to provide long-lasting, positive results for the patient.
One of the strong advantages of MAT is that the individual learns to recover and heal without the requirement to leave work, family or social obligations. The added benefit of participating in treatment while continuing regular life activities is that the patient learns to work within their current environment, addressing changes that need to occur within their present circumstances.
By contrast, patients that are removed from their environment for treatment must still learn how to cope and properly respond to stimuli associated with past behavior.
Options for MAT include medications such as methadone and buprenorphine (Subutex®), buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®, Zubsolv®, Bunavail®, etc.). Each of these medications has different properties and should be discussed with the doctor to determine which is the best option for the individual.