Long Term Medication Assisted Treatment at The Best Treatment
What Is MAT?
According to Samhsa the definition of MAT is Medication-assisted therapy (MAT), this is in reference to opioid and alcohol treatment programs. It combines behavioral therapy and medication to treat addiction use disorders. There are several medications used in MAT therapy, but the goals are all the same: help the recovering addict not experience the cravings associated with opioids and opiate drug abuse. Currently, the relapse rate for clients even after successfully completing a drug rehab are extremely high, MAT significantly reduces the relapse rates. Statistically speaking, MAT Treatment is the most successful intervention for opioid use disorder.
According to Drugabuse.gov https://www.drugabuse.gov/
Main Prescription Medications Used with MAT Programming
MAT programming has been around for years, as seen in the above statistics, it is not a common therapy used throughout the drug rehab industry. The conversation however, on MAT treatment is changing. With America currently in a State of Emergency because of the opioid addiction problem, treatment centers and drug rehabs are scrambling to find treatment that reduces relapse rates. Stepping Sober Recovery Center knows MAT can help. Out of all relapse rates, MAT has been proven to reduce relapse rates by 50%-61%. Those are more of the type of numbers we like to see, MAT treatment saves lives.
The leading medications known in most MAT Programs are Buprenorphine (which is one of the two ingredients in Suboxone and Subutex, also known as subs), Naloxone (also known as Narcan), Vivitrol, and Methadone.
Buprenorphine: is an opiate based medication used to treat heroin and other opioid based addictions in the setting of medical supervision. The pharmacological and safety profile of this medication makes it attractive treatment for clients who may be addiction to heroin or opiates.
(https://www.naabt.org/faq_answers.cfm?ID=2 )
Subs: The shortened name for Subutex or Suboxone. These are the brand names associated with Buprenorphine. These are opioid based meds with buprenorphine as the predominant ingredient.
Vivitrol: A monthly injection used to curb the opioid receptors in the brain, used often in opioid treatment programs and alcohol addiction rehab.
Methadone: Is another opioid medication used to reduce the withdrawal symptoms in people addiction to heroin or other narcotic drugs without causing the “high”.
Naloxone: Is usually sold under the brand name Narcan and is a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose cases.
Fact* In drug heavy cities, police are said to be administering Narcan up to 20 times per shift.
Methadone and Subs are similar in the aspect that they are administered daily in long-term MAT therapy. Both are narcotics that are used to treat opioid dependency with the option to eventually taper off the substance in order to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal experiences. Long-term MAT with the use of these medications goes with the goal of sustained sobriety because these medications are blocking the opioid receptors in the brain and the doses given are so low there is no euphoric effect from the medication.
These methods are life saving because drug users can turn to a regulated medication instead of an unknown substance if the only effect they’re seeking is to stop the withdrawal symptoms.
Vivitrol is a slightly different prescription medication when it comes to administration and concept. Vivitrol is a monthly administered prescription injection that works in the brain to block not only the effects of opioids, but also alcohol. An individual who has received the Vivitrol injection cannot experience the euphoric feeling associated with getting high on heroin and prescription opioids or experience the effects of drinking.
Therapies Used with MAT Treatment
Just as there are a variety of medications that go along with MAT Treatment, the same idea is behind the therapeutic side of this treatment type. MAT stands for Medication Assisted Therapy, so the idea behind any type of long term maintenance program is to have it correlate directly with the therapy that is being received.
The most common therapeutic programs we see when treating addiction are cognitive behavioral health (CBH), co-occurring disorder treatment, EMDR Trauma, couples therapy, family systems, pet therapy, art therapy, rec therapy, these therapies are in group and individual settings.
How Do the 12 Steps and MAT Coexist?
There is a saying in AA that says, “AA members should not give medical advice to each other.” This has been a philosophy that has been around since the beginning of AA and the other 12-Step programs. If anyone, at anytime in the rooms has a negative outlook of MAT Treatment, that is the only response that should be given.
Medication Applied Therapy Programs are administered by a Doctor and the licensed therapists. The therapists are giving the counseling and therapy care programming, while the medical team is administering the medication. These are the only people who should be advising an individual on treatment for an opioid use disorder.
For those who are in a 12 Step program and receiving treatment for addiction, they should be mindful to trust a medical opinion over others. MAT treatment is saving lives nationwide.
MAT at The Best Treatment Center
Medical Assisted Treatment Therapy for addiction treatment has two parts. The first part being the administered medication, and the second being the therapy that goes with the medication. At The Best Treatment Center we take pride in having top notch clinicians that can help clients heal their whole life starting with the body, and then moving over to the mind and spirit. Having a therapeutically managed MAT program ensures that recovery is the main goal and that these medications are not being abused.
Even though Methadone was previously mentioned as a MAT medication, we do not use Methadone at our facility. Sub Maintenance and Vivitrol are our primary methods of MAT. We do not administer Methadone to any of our clients, but feel because it is such a widely used treatment it should be explained and addressed.
How MAT Programming at The Best Treatment Can Help
We know that in many cases return to using (relapse) happens and we understand everyone has their unique situations and personalities and this is why customized drug rehab programs are so crucial in order to stay clean and sober.
We see MAT programming extremely successful when it comes to clients who have been in and out of drug rehabs various times in the past or recent years. By blocking the cravings and receiving therapeutic care at the same time, MAT programs have high success rates and low relapse rates. When it comes down to saving lives to overdoses, we are ready to use any therapy that can aid in overdose prevention.
The Best Treatment’ Medication Assisted Therapy for addiction treatment is provided on a case by case basis for those who have been approved through our medical screening. We have our medical team take each client’s situation into close consideration before making their recommendation on MAT programming.
If you or someone you know is sick and tired of being sick and tired due to this horrible disease of addiction, we can help. Call now: 888-670-9424.
