Overcoming substance use disorders can feel like a difficult road to walk, but depending on the substance use disorder, many forms of addiction treatment can help you.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is one of many treatment options that can help you overcome alcohol and opioid use disorder (OUD).
When used along with psychotherapies, this form of evidence-based treatment helps mitigate the damage done by the opioid epidemic.
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness in Stuart, Florida, we offer MAT with strict oversight and guidance as one way to help you overcome alcohol and opioid dependence.
About Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Addiction
MAT is a form of substance abuse treatment that uses medication to counter drug use and cravings related to opioid or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
This form of treatment, along with behavioral therapies and counseling, is used specifically for alcohol and opioid treatment programs. Scientists have not yet developed MAT for other addictions, like methamphetamine use or benzodiazepine addiction.
Nevertheless, substance abuse treatment providers at Harmony Treatment and Wellness have a variety of medical options to choose from when addressing opioid and alcohol dependence. These treatment options can greatly increase your chances of successfully overcoming addiction.
Benefits of MAT for People in Addiction Recovery
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders gives you several benefits that increase your chances of recovery and decrease the risk of overdose.
If you receive MAT with therapy, you:
- Increase retention in treatment
- Decrease chances of relapse
- Increase your chances of a healthy baby if you are pregnant
- Increase your ability to get and keep meaningful employment
- Decrease the likelihood of continuing drug-seeking and criminal behavior
One of the dangers of the treatment of opioid use disorder is the risk of relapse. When you detox from opioids and spend time off them, you reset your tolerance level. If you relapse and take opioids at the former rate, you put yourself at risk of opioid overdose.
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we offer MAT as part of our treatment services to give you the best chances of overcoming opioid and alcohol abuse safely.
What Happens in MAT at Harmony Treatment and Wellness?
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, MAT involves a process that begins with an examination and ends after the medication used to treat opioid use disorder or alcohol abuse has been tapered.
We always use MAT alongside other programs such as the partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), and outpatient/aftercare program.
The first step in treatment at Harmony Treatment and Wellness is to give you a psychiatric and medical evaluation to discover what your health care needs are.
With your input, we create a treatment plan that addresses what you need and takes you from detoxification to aftercare.
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we take the use of medications seriously, which means we only prescribe and administer medications approved for treatment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
We also monitor your progress closely by making sure your dosages are working, checking on you regularly, and conducting urinalysis. Our staff will watch closely for reactions or side effects.
Meanwhile, medication reduces drug cravings and lingering withdrawal symptoms, so you can focus on the foundational aspects of treatment.
MAT is not a standalone treatment. There is more to overcoming alcohol and opioid addiction than medication.
For medication to be effective, we offer it in conjunction with our PHP and IOP. Our PHP is the highest level of care we offer. You attend our treatment center all day taking part in individual and group therapy and other therapeutic approaches.
Our IOP program has morning or evening times that you can choose from as you continue treatment while readjusting to work or school schedules.
As you come to rely more on what you learn in therapy, we taper you off medications used in MAT. This is a slow process that happens throughout the course of the program.
Our outpatient or aftercare program is the final step in the treatment process. The outpatient program is less structured than the previous two levels.
Though it still has therapy and groups, it also focuses on the practical aspects of treatment like helping you address legal or employment concerns. By this point in treatment, you will have tapered off to the point that you can stop taking them.
Medications Used in MAT at Harmony Treatment and Wellness
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we use medications that are FDA-approved and safe for prescribing.
Several different medications are available depending on your needs. Having a range to choose from means that we are able to focus treatment on your specific needs.
Buprenorphine is a medication that can be prescribed by a primary care doctor for opioid use disorder but should be used in conjunction with a treatment plan.
Buprenorphine is a partial agonist which means that it functions similarly to heroin by binding to the opioid receptors, but its effects are far less than illicit opioids.
This makes buprenorphine treatment an effective way to reduce withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings in opioid treatment programs (OTPs).
Methadone has been used since the 1950s and is a full opiate agonist, which means it is an opioid like heroin. But its euphoric effects are less than heroin and it is easier to taper.
For this reason, some facilities still prescribe methadone and use it for treatment. Under strict monitoring, methadone treatment can reduce:
- Use of IV drugs
- Risk of overdose
- Transmission of diseases related to IV drug use, such as Hepatitis C
- Criminal behavior related to opioid seeking
However, at Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we do not use methadone.
Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone and can be taken as a sublingual tablet for opioid addiction.
Buprenorphine is a partial agonist/antagonist and naloxone is a full opioid antagonist. This combination makes it helpful for reducing drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It also acts as a useful maintenance medication while you are in treatment.
Vivitrol (naltrexone) is a full opioid antagonist that acts primarily against the mu-opioid receptors and secondarily against the kappa and delta-opioid receptors.
By blocking these receptors, Vivitrol halts the effects of opioid use. It also blocks the effects of alcohol intoxication, which is why naltrexone is often used as a MAT for alcohol addiction.
If you are taking Vivitrol, you will not experience the effects of drinking alcohol the same as you would if you were not taking it.
Naloxone is another opioid antagonist that is often used to treat opioid overdose, including overdose from fentanyl.
It can be injected, but it comes in the form of a nasal spray and can be easily administered by family members or a loved one of someone facing an overdose.
Naloxone is only effective if you have opioids in your system, which is why it is used to reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone is combined with buprenorphine in the medication Suboxone for treatment.
Which Addictions Need Medication Assisted Treatment?
MAT does not address every addiction. However, at Harmony Treatment and Wellness, MAT can address addiction to:
- Opioids
- Heroin
- Alcohol
- Opiates
- Painkillers
This is primarily because the specific medications used for these disorders bind to or block opioid receptors, helping you get through severe drug cravings so you can focus on treatment.
How Long Do MAT Programs Last?
At Harmony, MAT lasts from one to six months. It is managed like a long-term tapering program and the doses that we prescribe are consistent with harm reduction doses.
MAT is also done in conjunction with the other therapies and behavioral health programs that we offer, so you can expect treatment of all aspects of addiction.
Payment & Insurance Options for MAT
Payment is one of the biggest concerns if you choose treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Drug and alcohol rehab are expensive, but there are ways you can pay for it.
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we work with a wide range of insurance companies. These include:
- Humana
- Optum
- BlueCross BlueShield
- UnitedHealthcare
- Beacon
- Cigna
There are other insurance companies we work with as well. Call us to see if we work with your Medicaid, Medicare, or other insurance plan.
Tips for Choosing a Medication Assisted Treatment Program
When looking for a medication-assisted treatment program, you want to look for marks of quality that ensure a professional treatment program. These marks include:
- Accreditation: Programs, like ours at Harmony, that are accredited by the Joint Commission adhere to strict guidelines and protocols for treatment.
- Treatment options: An MAT program is only effective if the program incorporates other treatment options such as therapy. Harmony Treatment and Wellness offers a range of treatment programs for addiction to meet you where you are in recovery.
- Personalized care: A professional MAT program will adjust dosages, timelines, and other treatments to meet your needs. Harmony Treatment and Wellness designs treatment plans for each person, built to their needs.
- Insurance coverage: It’s important that a prospective rehab works with insurance companies to help you pay for treatment. Harmony is in-network with a number of health plans.
Now is the perfect time to begin to heal!
Find Expert MAT at Harmony Treatment and Wellness
If you are facing opioid or alcohol addiction, you can find treatment today at Harmony Treatment and Wellness in Stuart, FL.
We offer a range of programs including a MAT program that reduces drug cravings and lingering withdrawal symptoms, so you can more comfortably focus on treatment.
Our providers are caring, compassionate, and committed to your treatment and safety. Reach out to us to learn more about MAT and what the process looks like for you.
Most Insurance Accepted
We work with most major insurance carriers and offer a range of options to fit your lifestyle and financial means
Medication Assisted Treatment Program FAQs
Medication-assisted treatment uses medications to help treat opioid or alcohol addiction by reducing drug cravings.
This form of treatment works best when used with other treatment programs and levels of care such as therapy in a partial hospitalization program (PHP).
Medical detox marks the beginning of treatment, when you receive medical care that removes toxins from your system. MAT focuses on long-term treatment by reducing symptoms of drug cravings and lowering the risk of relapse.
MAT is very effective for treatment. One study found that buprenorphine results in making recovery almost two times as likely.
MAT at Harmony lasts from one to six months, depending on how severe your addiction is and what is best for your treatment plan.
Sources
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). “Methadone maintenance treatment.” Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310658/. Accessed on October 23, 2024.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). “Naltrexone.” Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534811/#:~:text=Naltrexone%20is%20an%20FDA%2Dapproved,physiologic%20dependence%20on%20opioid%20users. Access on October 23, 2024.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder Research Report.” Retrieved from: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/efficacy-medications-opioid-use-disorder. Accessed on October 23, 2024.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Naloxone DrugFacts.” Retrieved from: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone#:~:text=Yes. Accessed on October 23, 2024.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Buprenorphine.” Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/buprenorphine. Accessed on October 23, 2024.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Medications, Counseling, and Related Conditions.” Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions#:~:text=Medications%20for%20Alcohol%20Use%20Disorder,participate%20in%20a%20MAUD%20program. Accessed on October 23, 2024.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Medications for Substance Use Disorders.” Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders. Accessed on October 23, 2024..
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