Addiction is a chronic disease that requires professional help to overcome and heal. For individuals struggling with opioid addiction, it can be exceptionally challenging to recover from dependency. One of the best ways to treat the disease of addiction is through medication-assisted treatment or MAT. Opioids and alcohol are two substances that drastically alter brain chemistry, causing an individual to rely upon the substances to function normally. When someone becomes addicted or dependent upon substances, their body undergoes painful withdrawal symptoms if they don’t use the substance enough. This physical aspect of addiction will combine with mental and emotional factors such as cravings to make overcoming dependency extremely difficult.
MAT is a method used to reduce cravings and alleviate the discomfort of withdrawal so patients can get the therapeutic treatment they need to heal. Treatment Connection can help you find medication-assisted treatment programs for substance use disorder near you.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs
Medication-assisted treatment is designed to help patients manage withdrawal symptoms and overcome cravings. By addressing the physical aspects of dependency, MAT gives patients the relief necessary to work through addiction’s mental side. With withdrawal symptoms and cravings muted, patients are better positioned to focus on the therapy needed to help them discover, address, and overcome their underlying causes of addiction. This two-pronged approach makes MAT extremely effective.
The majority of patients in an MAT program seek support to heal from opioid addiction. This includes potent and highly addictive opiates, like heroin and morphine and prescription opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Some of the medications used in medication-assisted treatment can include:
- Buprenorphine: A medication that suppresses and reduces cravings.
- Methadone: A medication used for several decades to address heroin addiction as it blunts or blocks the effects of opioids.
- Naltrexone: This medication nullifies the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids. It is also a medication used to treat alcohol use disorder.
Some medications that can be administered to ease the impact of withdrawal from alcohol use disorder such as:
- Acamprosate: A medication assisting individuals in continuing to abstain from drinking. It is effective in aiding in the readjustment of brain chemistry to a state closer to that before dependency. However, it doesn’t prevent or address withdrawal symptoms and can only be taken when someone is alcohol and drug-free.
- Disulfiram: For individuals who have already gone through detox or treatment for alcohol use disorder, disulfiram is a once-a-day tablet that can aid in avoiding alcohol. It creates significant unpleasant effects such as immediate nausea, headaches, and vomiting when they consume alcohol.
Medications like these are frequently administered over several months, and for some patients, it can become a program used for years to manage dependency.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
There are numerous benefits to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), whether for opioid addiction (perhaps the most common treatment program) or alcohol misuse. By closely monitoring a patient’s progress and interactions with their medications, medical experts, and treatment professionals, can adjust treatment to reflect the individual’s needs. By giving patients a treatment method that addresses their physical needs, individuals increase the likelihood of completing treatment and avoiding relapse. Thus, MAT is safe, reduces the risk of overdose, and is cost-effective for both the facility and the patient.
Explore How Treatment Connection Can Help
Addiction is a chronic condition, but with medication-assisted treatment, individuals can manage their dependency healthily. Medication-assisted treatment can be an effective program for individuals struggling with opioid addiction or alcohol use disorder. You can find MAT providers by exploring Treatment Connection to discover MAT programs in your area. The Treatment Connection website enables you to find the treatment you or a loved one needs to heal from addiction.
