What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
October 7, 2021
As of 2018, an estimated 2 million people had an opioid use disorder. This includes prescription pain medication containing opiates and heroin.
Medication-Assisted Treated (MAT) is a clinically effective treatment that significantly reduces the need for inpatient detoxification services for these individuals. It’s a comprehensive and individually tailored program that consists of medication and behavioral therapy.
If you’re currently using buprenorphine to treat your opioid use disorder, keep reading. Visiting Bend Suboxone Doctors can help you with suboxone-buprenorphine addiction treatment.
What is MAT?
Medication-assisted treatment combines the use of medications, counseling, and behavioral therapies to provide a “whole-patient” approach for substance use disorder treatment. MAT is clinically driven and adjusted to the needs of each patient.
MAT is backed by research, which shows that combining medication and therapy can help sustain recovery. The medication prescribed during this treatment does the following:
• Normalizes brain chemistry
• Blocks the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids
• Relieve physiological cravings
• Normalizes body functions without the negative and euphoric effects of the substance used
Is MAT Effective?
Medically-assisted treatment has been proven to be clinically effective. Its goal is full recovery, and after attending Bend Suboxone Clinic, patients can live self-directed lives. This treatment approach can:
• Improve patient survival
• Increase treatment retention
• Decrease illicit opiate use as well as other criminal activity among those with substance use disorders
• Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
• Improve birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders and are pregnant
What Medications Are Used for MAT?
Opioid dependency medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are used to treat opioid disorders to short-acting opioids. Short-acting opioids include heroin, morphine, and codeine as well as semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone. All three of these medications are FDA approved as they have been demonstrated to be safe and effective when combined with counseling and psychosocial support.
MAT medications are safe to use for months, years, or even the rest of your life. However, you should always closely consult your doctor during use and before discontinuing use.
Where Should You Go for MAT?
If you’re interested in changing your life, improving your health, and alleviating the pain and suffering associated with your addiction, visit Bend Suboxone Doctors.
Suboxone is a life-saving medication that’s composed of buprenorphine — which helps with pain relief — and naloxone — which prevents overdose. It allows patients to regain control of their life and health.
Under the supervision of an addiction treatment doctor, you’ll have professional support as you defeat your addiction and maintain your overall health. Your doctor will do the following:
• Keep a record of other medications you take
• Note your history with narcotics and co-occurring illnesses you may have
• Tailor your medical care to your unique medical, social, and psychological history
• Monitor your progress and adjust your dosage to manage your pain
When you’re ready, your Bend suboxone doctor will carefully wean you off narcotic pain management safely. This will make your treatment as comfortable as possible, and you’ll be able to work through the various facets of addiction together.
Final Thoughts
Are you interested in more information about the Bend Suboxone Clinic? Working with a trained suboxone doctor is critical to avoid the potential side effects of this medication. Call us today at 541-388-7799 or visit here to learn more information.
We’re run by board-certified medical specialists who treat addiction and offer other pain management alternatives, including physical therapy, injections, nerve blocks, and 12-step projects. Our services always factor your unique medical and mental health needs into the treatment plan.