Medication-Assisted Treatment for Substance Abuse Disorders: How It Works

If you have ever felt trapped in the cycle of addiction, desperately wanting to break free but struggling to find a way out–you’re not alone. Substance abuse disorders affect millions of people worldwide, and the road to recovery can seem like a far-off destination. However, treatment options have come a long way over the years. Medication Assisted Treatment for substance abuse is among the latest scientifically proven methods that could significantly increase your chances of success in recovery.

This game-changing approach, also known as MAT, is revolutionizing addiction recovery. Blending a powerful combination of medication and behavioral therapy, MAT has been shown to improve outcomes dramatically for individuals battling substance abuse disorders.

The content below will explore everything you need to know about Medication-Assisted Treatment for drug addiction, how it works, the medications used, and why it’s considered one of the most effective treatments available.

What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Substance Abuse?

Medication-Assisted Treatment is a comprehensive method for treating substance abuse disorders, integrating FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies. The main goal of MAT is to assist you in recovering from addiction by addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of substance use.

MAT works by:

• Reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• Normalizing brain chemistry and bodily functions
• Blocking the euphoric effects of opioids and alcohol
• Improving your chances of long-term recovery

By utilizing medications alongside therapy, MAT programs in Los Angeles provide patients with a more holistic treatment experience, increasing the likelihood of success in overcoming addiction.

Conditions treated with MAT

Medication-Assisted Treatment is primarily used to address substance use disorders, particularly:

1. Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): Including addiction to prescription painkillers and heroin
2. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Helping you manage alcohol dependence and cravings

While MAT is primarily linked to these conditions, research continues to investigate its potential benefits for other substance use disorders, including cocaine and methamphetamine addiction.

How Does Medication-Assisted Treatment Help With Addiction Recovery?

The primary goal of Medication-Assisted Treatment is to support your recovery journey by addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction, giving you a comprehensive approach to recovery.

MAT helps in addiction recovery by:

1. Addressing physical dependence: When you have been using drugs or alcohol for a long time, your body can become physically dependent on these substances. MAT helps to break this dependence by providing medications that interact with the same brain receptors as the addictive substance. This method enables you to gradually reduce your reliance on the drug without facing severe withdrawal symptoms.
2. Managing withdrawal symptoms: One of the most challenging aspects of quitting drugs or alcohol is coping with withdrawal symptoms during drug detox. These can range from mild discomfort to severe, life-threatening conditions. MAT medications help in managing these symptoms, making the detoxification process more comfortable and safer for you. By reducing the intensity of withdrawal, you’re more likely to successfully complete the initial phase of recovery.
3. Reducing cravings: Cravings present a significant challenge in addiction recovery. MAT medications help lessen these powerful urges, providing you with a greater opportunity to maintain sobriety. Diminishing cravings enables you to concentrate more on cultivating healthy coping strategies and fully engaging in your behavioral therapy sessions.
4. Restoring brain chemistry balance: Substance abuse can significantly disrupt your brain’s chemical balance. The restoration process is crucial for your long-term recovery as it helps you regain control over your thoughts and actions.

MAT helps restore this balance by:

• Normalizing brain functions
• Stabilizing mood and emotions
• Improving cognitive abilities
• Enhancing decision-making skills

5. Supporting behavioral therapy: While medications are vital in MAT, they’re not the sole component. Behavioral therapy is equally important, and MAT medications support this aspect of treatment by:

• Reducing drug-seeking behaviors
• Improving your ability to engage in therapy sessions
• Enhancing your receptiveness to new coping strategies
• Increasing your motivation to change

Benefits over traditional treatment methods

MAT offers several advantages over traditional treatment approaches that rely solely on counseling and behavioral therapies:

1. Increased retention in treatment: You’re more likely to stay engaged in your recovery program when using MAT.
2. Reduced risk of relapse: The medications help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier for you to maintain sobriety.
3. Improved social functioning: MAT can help you regain stability in your personal and professional life more quickly.
4. Decreased risk of overdose: Medications like naltrexone can block the effects of opioids, reducing the likelihood of a fatal overdose.
5. Better management of co-occurring mental health disorders: MAT can address both addiction and mental health issues simultaneously.
6. Reduced risk of infectious diseases: By decreasing illicit drug use, MAT helps lower the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne infections.

MAT can be administered in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Your choice will depend on various factors, including the severity of your addiction, your support system, and your daily responsibilities.

What Are the Three Medications Used to Treat Substance Abuse Disorders?

By combining medication with counseling and behavioral therapies, MAT provides you with a more comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. To treat opioid use disorder, the three most common medications are:

1. Methadone: A long-acting opioid agonist that helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms and can be used for long-term maintenance. As a full opioid agonist, methadone works by binding to the same receptors in your brain that opioids like heroin or prescription painkillers target. However, it does so in a controlled, regulated manner, helping you manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings without producing the intense high associated with illicit drug use.
2. Buprenorphine: As a partial opioid agonist, Buprenorphine helps manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings while allowing you to maintain a clearer state of mind compared to full agonists like methadone. It can be used for both detoxification and long-term maintenance and offers several benefits, including a lower risk of overdose, milder side effects, less potential for misuse, and greater flexibility in treatment settings.
3. Naltrexone: Naltrexone takes a different approach to treating substance abuse disorders. As an opioid antagonist, it blocks the effects of opioids on your brain. When you take naltrexone, it occupies the opioid receptors without activating them, effectively preventing opioids from producing their typical effects if you were to use them. This medication is particularly useful in preventing relapse as it removes the incentive to use opioids.

Medications for alcohol use disorder

While the focus is often on opioid addiction, medication-assisted treatment is also effective for alcohol use disorder. Several FDA-approved medications can help you manage alcohol cravings and maintain sobriety:

1. Acamprosate: This medication helps restore the balance of certain brain chemicals disrupted by long-term alcohol use, reducing cravings and making it easier for you to maintain abstinence.
2. Disulfiram: Known by the brand name Antabuse, this medication causes unpleasant reactions if you consume alcohol, acting as a deterrent to drinking.
3. Naltrexone: In addition to its use in opioid addiction treatment, naltrexone can also help reduce alcohol cravings and the pleasurable effects of drinking.

What Is the Most Effective Treatment for Substance Abuse?

When it comes to treating substance abuse disorders, (MAT) has consistently shown higher success rates than other treatment approaches.
MAT’s effectiveness stems from its comprehensive approach, which combines medications with behavioral therapies and counseling. The American Medical Association and the National Institutes of Health strongly endorse this evidence-based treatment modality.

Studies show that MAT can significantly enhance retention rates in treatment programs. For example, patients undergoing MAT for opioid addiction are twice as likely to stay in treatment compared to those who do not have medication support. This heightened engagement is vital for long-term recovery success.

Additionally, MAT has proven to be more effective than non-medication approaches in reducing illicit drug use. A significant decrease in opioid use is observed among patients receiving MAT, with some studies indicating reductions of up to 75% in illegal opioid use.

Long-term outcomes using MAT

The long-term outcomes of MAT are especially promising. Patients who undergo MAT are more likely to sustain sobriety and prevent relapse over more extended periods. Research indicates that individuals who receive MAT for at least one to two years experience significantly better outcomes than those who discontinue treatment earlier.

Some key long-term benefits you can expect from MAT include:

• Sustained abstinence from drugs
• Improved mental health
• Better physical health outcomes
• Increased employment rates
• Improved quality of life for patients
• Reduced criminal activity
• Reduction in overdose deaths

One of the most crucial aspects of MAT’s effectiveness is its ability to lower overdose deaths. You’ll be pleased to know that MAT has been proven to cut the risk of fatal overdoses by as much as 50%. This decrease is mainly due to the medications used in MAT, which can effectively manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, thereby reducing the chances of relapse and subsequent overdose.

Get Medication-Assisted Treatment for Substance Abuse at Muse Treatment

When seeking Medication Assisted Treatment for substance use disorders, finding the right treatment program is crucial for your recovery journey. At Muse Treatment Center in Los Angeles, our addiction treatment professionals are there to help you every step of the way, working hand-in-hand with experts in drug treatment addiction.

We will evaluate your needs to identify and diagnose your substance abuse disorder and its severity, and they will also consider underlying physical and mental health issues to assess your needs properly. If you are a suitable candidate for Medication-Assisted Treatment, you will begin your MAT program to start your path to sobriety.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help and explore the various support options available during your MAT experience. Remember, the most effective treatment for substance abuse is often a personalized approach that may include MAT along with other interventions.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out to Muse Treatment today at 800-426-1818. We are committed to helping individuals battling addiction in Los Angeles so they can receive the support they deserve for a
successful recovery.

External Sources

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
• National Institutes of Health – Behavioral Research to Improve Medication-Based Treatment
• Pew Charitable Trusts – Medication-Assisted Treatment Improves Outcomes for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder