Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is an option for the treatment of addiction. So, what is this MAT? It is an evidence-based treatment for addiction that includes a combination of medication and behavioral therapies to treat addiction. It assists people in abstaining from substances, so they may have a successful road to a solid recovery.
What are the most popular medications for MAT?
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Zubsolv, Bunavail) is an opioid partial agonist which means it has unique pharmacological properties that help to delete the physical dependency symptoms such as cravings and withdrawal symptoms related to opioid dependency. Its components have a low potential for misuse and there is a safety mechanism in cases of a drug overdose. The dosing regimen is via controlled substance regulations. It is a daily medication that is taken, and the prescriptions are usually given to the person weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
- Sublocade injection is a monthly injection of extended-release Buprenorphine. It does the same thing as the daily dose of Buprenorphine other than the route is an injection and given every 28 days.
- Extended-release Naltrexone (Vivitrol injection) is a monthly injection that is given for both opioid dependency and alcohol dependency. It blocks the effects of opioids, such as heroin or opioid pain medicines. It assists in treating alcohol dependency by damping the effect that alcohol has on the brain. This, in combination with behavioral therapy, is a positive treatment for alcohol use disorder.
- Oral dose Naltrexone and Campral are just two of several oral medications that reduce the desire to drink alcohol and treat alcoholism.
Medication Assisted Treatment and Behavioral Health Counseling
Unfortunately, just taking the medication alone for medication assisted treatment is just not enough, in order to be successful in the long term there must be a combination approach that would include medication and behavioral therapy. The medications will do their part in suppressing the cravings and withdrawal symptoms also known as ‘dope sickness’. This suppression minimizes the physical barriers. With that under control, we can address the brain changes that cause addiction without interference. With more focus, the person will think about long-term treatment techniques that refurbish the brain to better cope and rethink processes to help be successful in their journey to recovery. Recovery is the treatment for addiction brain disease. Contact us today to learn more about this addiction treatment.
