If you’ve done any amount of research on addiction treatment, especially concerning opioids, then you’ve definitely run into the term Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). So what is MAT exactly and is it for you? This Transformations Care article will answer those questions and more for you, so let’s get into it.
What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
Medication-Assisted Treatment or MAT is a treatment option that blends medication with counseling to support someone new to recovery. MAT is best thought of as a tool to supplement your recovery journey. It’s not a replacement for full-on drug rehab necessarily, but it’s something you might use as part of your overall treatment plan.
While it isn’t always enough by itself, Medication Assisted Treatment is definitely proven to help people stay sober longer. MAT has a solid track record as an effective option for people seeking support as they begin their journey to long-term sobriety. Combined with other treatments and solid recovery lifestyle, it can take you a long way.
How Does MAT Work?
This specialized approach to addiction treatment helps people reach long-term recovery goals by offsetting withdrawal symptoms and cravings and providing therapy support at the same time. MAT is a combination of mental health therapy and medication. It’s especially popular for opioid addiction, but it is used for other addictions too.
The medicines that are used in MAT are approved by the FDA for addiction treatment. They help relieve both withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The main objective of Medication-Assisted Treatment is to give people a dependable option to stop addiction in its tracks and avoid relapse by both controlling cravings and using mental health counseling and recovery planning.
MAT is an evidence-based treatment for addiction because it’s based on research and has proven results. It’s also considered a holistic approach because it not only addresses the physical symptoms of addiction but also the mental and social effects addiction can have. There is no doubt that millions of people have been helped by Medication-Assisted Treatment.
Things to Know About Medication-Assisted Treatment:
- Helps people stay in recovery long-term
- Uses medicines to eliminate most cravings
- Combines medicines with therapy and recovery support
- Shown to be especially effective for opioid addiction
- Is also available for alcohol and other addictions
Opioid Addiction and MAT
Opioid addiction devastates millions of people in the United States and around the world every year. No one is immune to becoming addicted to opiates, regardless of their age, gender, or background. It’s not a matter of willpower or discipline or morals or character either. Addiction is a disease and a biological phenomenon. The road to recovery can be tough to be sure, but with the help of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and an honest commitment to recovery, you really can overcome opioid addiction.
The holistic approach of MAT combines medicine with counseling to address the physical and mental aspects of addiction. It isn’t the only way, but it remains one of the more effective tools we have in the battle against opioid addiction. At Transformations Care, we’re about giving people choices and presenting them with the best available options to get them the recovery they deserve. We feel that medication-assisted treatment is one of the options worth considering.
Medication-Assisted Treatment for OUD:
- Improves outcomes and increases odds of recovery
- Is easy to access and affordable for most people with OUD
- Is state subsidized in all 50-states for low-income people
- Is proven, evidence-based addiction treatment
Different Types of MAT
Not all MAT looks exactly the same. This treatment option comes in different forms. It may involve medicines like Suboxone or talk therapy like CBT or DBT. Other MAT programs may include alternative practices like mindfulness meditation and yoga. Most programs encompass a number of these elements. What all Medication-Assisted Treatment programs have in common though, is they seek to provide people addicted to opioids an accessible path to long-term recovery.
As clinical professionals with personal experience in addiction recovery, we understand just how important compassion and empathy are when working with someone who has ‘hit bottom’ and chosen to try a new way of living. This is why our approach to addiction treatment in every form is not only professional but warm and caring here. We’ve worked very hard to create and inclusive environment that promotes healing and growth. Whether or not MAT will be a part of your journey is up to you, but rest assured, if you’re getting treatment at Transformations Care, we’ve got your back.
Why Choose MAT for Addiction Recovery
There’s a pretty simple answer for this. It works. If you’ve been to rehab several times and have struggled to stay drug-free for more than a few months at a time, then you might want to consider Medication-Assisted Treatment as a possibility. For opioid-addicted individuals especially, removing the craving element has been shown to be enormously effective in reducing relapse rates and buying people the time they need to get some solid recovery under their belts.
A MAT medicine regimen reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings, while the therapy component addresses any underlying mental health conditions. This approach is like a one-two punch to addiction by hitting it on two fronts simultaneously. While MAT isn’t a substitute for real inpatient treatment, it can be a lifesaver for people who simply can’t stop going to work or leave their families for treatment. It can also help people stay on the sober path after inpatient treatment.
Final Thoughts on MAT and Addiction Recovery
Transformations Care believes that no two persons’ recovery stories look exactly the same. Each person needs to find their own road to recovery. While we are all heading in the same direction, the path we take may be a little different from person to person. Our goal here is to give you everything you need to make that journey safely and with confidence.
If you have questions about MAT, addiction treatment or mental health treatment, Transformations Care wants to hear from you! Give us a call right now at (424) 339-0965