If you have a moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD), or if you have relapsed, the right combination of medication and psychosocial treatments may be a good option for you.
This combination is known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT), a whole-person, comprehensive addiction treatment approach that has helped many people achieve lasting recovery.
Bedrock Recovery Center’s MAT services provide FDA-approved medications for OUD and AUD treatment, such as buprenorphine and naltrexone, to block the effects of withdrawal, suppress or reduce cravings, or stop the euphoric effects of opioid or alcohol use. As you begin using a MAT medication at BRC, you will also engage in evidence-based therapy, counseling, peer support groups, and/or other treatments available through our residential addiction treatment program.
Our MAT and aftercare coordinators will also make sure that you have access to ongoing MAT services near you, and any other support required, once you leave us.
Learn More About Medication-Assisted Treatment
When people who are dependent on drugs or alcohol stop using them, they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can be severe, often leading to relapse.
When you start a MAT program, your treatment provider will prescribe a medication to suppress or reduce symptoms of withdrawal. Some medications can eliminate cravings for drugs.
This lessens the chance of relapse and allows you to focus on recovery instead of cravings and withdrawal. Proven-effective treatment involving medications also involves therapy, counseling, or other psychosocial solutions to get to the root of your substance use and instill healthy coping skills. Medication-assisted treatment is the name given to treatment that combines these two approaches.
How Does Medication-Assisted Treatment Work?
Medications used in MAT can reduce or eliminate cravings and other withdrawal symptoms, giving the person a better opportunity to focus on learning healthy coping skills and putting healthy habits into practice. In some cases, MAT medications block the pleasurable effects typically caused by the particular substance, or make any use of the substance come with uncomfortable effects, to help people maintain recovery.
While medications tackle physical symptoms of addiction and dependence, treatment options like therapy and counseling can help people change their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors surrounding their substance use.
What Medications Are Used in Medication-Assisted Treatment?
In general, MAT medications used for opioid use disorder are different from those used for alcohol use disorder, with one exception.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the following five drugs for use in MAT programs:
- buprenorphine
- methadone
- naltrexone (used to treat both)
- disulfiram
- acamprosate
Medications Used To Treat Alcohol Use Disorder
The most common drugs used to treat AUD include acamprosate, naltrexone, and disulfiram. These are the only FDA-approved, evidence-based medications for AUD.
Disulfiram (brand name, Antabuse) works by causing an unpleasant reaction when you drink even a small amount of alcohol.
Effects may include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- skin rash
- sweating
- headache
The reaction from disulfiram is so unpleasant that it prevents most people from experiencing a full relapse.
Acamprosate (brand name, Campral) is thought to work by changing the balance of chemicals in the brain, which can stop specific alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
This includes symptoms such as:
- anxiety
- trouble sleeping
- restlessness
When you’re not struggling through these withdrawal symptoms, you can focus more fully on recovery. Acamprosate can help people who have stopped drinking large amounts of alcohol continue to avoid drinking.
Naltrexone (brand names, Vivitrol and Revia) works by reducing cravings and eliminating the high that you feel from alcohol use.
Like people taking Campral, you should stop drinking alcohol before starting naltrexone. You will most likely be introduced to these medications following detox.
Medications Used To Treat Opioid Use Disorder
People with OUD may also be able to use medications to help reduce or eliminate cravings and other withdrawal symptoms.
The FDA has approved these medications to treat OUD:
- naltrexone
- buprenorphine
- methadone
Naltrexone works the same way for OUD as AUD. It can eliminate drug cravings and prevent the pleasurable effects of opioids, making a relapse less likely.
You will need to stop using opioids before starting naltrexone, which is recommended to be done through a medically supervised detox program.
Buprenorphine (brand names, Subutex and Suboxone) works by controlling withdrawal, reducing cravings, and blocking the effects of opioids.
Methadone works by blocking withdrawal symptoms. Unlike other drugs used in MAT, methadone has a potential for abuse and addiction. Your treatment provider will ask for a full health history to determine the right medication approach for you.
What to Expect During Medication-Assisted Treatment
Many people begin MAT during residential addiction treatment, such as the program at Bedrock Recovery Center. People with milder addictions may begin treatment through an outpatient program.
During residential treatment, your care team will hold onto your medication and give it to you to take at the right time each day. They will also provide regular monitoring to make sure the desired outcomes are achieved.
Our MAT coordinator will set you up with an ongoing treatment pathway to follow once you’ve completed care at Bedrock. This may include connecting you with an outpatient MAT program near you.
In some cases, outpatient programs will continue to hold onto your medication for you, and you will need to visit the center in order to receive the next dose. Over time, you will be able to take a certain amount of the medication home with you. The exception is methadone. Due to the risk of abuse and addiction, methadone needs to be taken in a clinic.
Does Medication-Assisted Treatment Work?
Yes, medication-assisted treatment works. Research shows that your recovery outcome is much better when you’re using MAT. The risk of relapse is much lower, and so is the risk of overdose.
Learn More About MAT At Bedrock Recovery Center
Bedrock Recovery Center can help you achieve lasting recovery from opioid or alcohol addiction. Please call us today if you have any questions about our treatment program.
