Medication-assisted treatment, also known as MAT, is a type of treatment that combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders. The main goal of MAT is to reduce the harmful consequences of addiction and help people recover from their addiction.
MAT is an evidence-based practice that has been shown to be effective in treating substance use disorders. MAT is used to treat a wide range of substance use disorders, including alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, and other forms of substance abuse. MAT is not a standalone treatment and should be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as counseling and behavioral therapies.
How does Medication Assisted Treatment work?
MAT works by using medications to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal and cravings, making it easier for people to abstain from using drugs or alcohol. The medications used in MAT are approved by the FDA for the treatment of addiction. These medications include disulfiram, buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.
Disulfiram
Also known as Antabuse or Tetradin, is a medication used to treat chronic alcohol abuse. It works by blocking the body’s ability to convert alcohol into acetaldehyde, which is then further broken down into acetic acid. Acetaldehyde is toxic in high levels and causes the “disulfiram effect”—a range of unpleasant physical symptoms that occur when someone drinks alcohol while taking disulfiram. In this article, we’ll explain what disulfiram is, how it works, and why it’s used to treat alcoholism.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine works by binding to the same opioid receptors in the brain as other opioids, such as heroin and oxycodone. However, unlike these other drugs, buprenorphine has a lower risk of addiction due to its low potency and long-acting effects. This makes it a safer option for those seeking treatment for opioid addiction.
Buprenorphine also has the added benefit of decreasing drug cravings and reducing withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction. This can help individuals who are trying to overcome their substance use disorder stay on track with their recovery goals.
Methadone
Methadone is a full agonist at the mu-opioid receptor, which means that it binds to the mu-opioid receptor and produces a response that is similar to that of heroin or morphine. Methadone can be used to treat withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with opioid addiction.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an antagonist at the mu-opioid receptor, which means that it blocks the mu-opioid receptor from being activated by opioids such as heroin or morphine. Naltrexone can be used to treat cravings associated with opioid addiction.
MAT medications are prescribed by a certified physician and dispensed by a registered pharmacy. The dosage of the medication is individualized based on the patient’s needs.
In addition to taking medications, people who undergo MAT also receive counseling and behavioral therapies. Counseling can help people identify the underlying causes of their addiction and develop coping mechanisms to deal with triggers and cravings. Behavioral therapies can help people change their behavior so that they are less likely to relapse into drug or alcohol use.
MAT is a comprehensive approach to treating substance use disorders that have been shown to be effective in helping people recover from addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction, please seek help from a certified MAT provider today.
Medication-assisted treatment is an evidence-based practice that has been shown to be effective in treating substance use disorders including alcohol dependence and opioid dependence. mat combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders and help people recover from their addiction the main goal of the mat is to reduce the harmful consequences of addiction and help people recover from their addiction if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction please seek help from a certified mat provider today.
What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
Medication-assisted treatment, also known as MAT, is a type of treatment that combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders. The main goal of MAT is to reduce the harmful consequences of addiction and help people recover from their addiction.
MAT is an evidence-based practice that has been shown to be effective in treating substance use disorders. MAT is used to treat a wide range of substance use disorders, including alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, and other forms of substance abuse. MAT is not a standalone treatment and should be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as counseling and behavioral therapies.
How does Medication Assisted Treatment work?
MAT works by using medications to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal and cravings, making it easier for people to abstain from using drugs or alcohol. The medications used in MAT are approved by the FDA for the treatment of addiction. These medications include disulfiram, buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.
Disulfiram
Also known as Antabuse or Tetradin, is a medication used to treat chronic alcohol abuse. It works by blocking the body’s ability to convert alcohol into acetaldehyde, which is then further broken down into acetic acid. Acetaldehyde is toxic in high levels and causes the “disulfiram effect”—a range of unpleasant physical symptoms that occur when someone drinks alcohol while taking disulfiram. In this article, we’ll explain what disulfiram is, how it works, and why it’s used to treat alcoholism.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine works by binding to the same opioid receptors in the brain as other opioids, such as heroin and oxycodone. However, unlike these other drugs, buprenorphine has a lower risk of addiction due to its low potency and long-acting effects. This makes it a safer option for those seeking treatment for opioid addiction.
Buprenorphine also has the added benefit of decreasing drug cravings and reducing withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction. This can help individuals who are trying to overcome their substance use disorder stay on track with their recovery goals.
Methadone
Methadone is a full agonist at the mu-opioid receptor, which means that it binds to the mu-opioid receptor and produces a response that is similar to that of heroin or morphine. Methadone can be used to treat withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with opioid addiction.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an antagonist at the mu-opioid receptor, which means that it blocks the mu-opioid receptor from being activated by opioids such as heroin or morphine. Naltrexone can be used to treat cravings associated with opioid addiction.
MAT medications are prescribed by a certified physician and dispensed by a registered pharmacy. The dosage of the medication is individualized based on the patient’s needs.
In addition to taking medications, people who undergo MAT also receive counseling and behavioral therapies. Counseling can help people identify the underlying causes of their addiction and develop coping mechanisms to deal with triggers and cravings. Behavioral therapies can help people change their behavior so that they are less likely to relapse into drug or alcohol use.
MAT is a comprehensive approach to treating substance use disorders that have been shown to be effective in helping people recover from addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction, please seek help from a certified MAT provider today.
Medication-assisted treatment is an evidence-based practice that has been shown to be effective in treating substance use disorders including alcohol dependence and opioid dependence. mat combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders and help people recover from their addiction the main goal of the mat is to reduce the harmful consequences of addiction and help people recover from their addiction if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction please seek help from a certified mat provider today.