Medication-Assisted Treatment in New York

There are many treatment options and multiple paths to recovery for individuals experiencing substance use disorders. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is one of them.

While abstinence and psychotherapy work well for some people, others struggle with this approach. Many would greatly benefit from medications to help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, partnered with mental health therapy, which is what MAT provides.

If you or your loved one is dealing with a substance use disorder and are looking for an evidence-based and effective treatment plan, it might be helpful to learn more about medication-assisted treatment and how it can encourage a successful and lasting recovery.

Medication-Assisted Treatment in New York

What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) refers to the use of medication in combination with behavioral therapies and counseling to safely and effectively treat addiction. It provides a “whole body” approach to treatment that’s tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs.

The medications used in MAT are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and tobacco use disorder. Research shows that MAT can successfully treat these disorders, sustain recovery, and prevent overdose.

The ultimate goal of MAT is to make full recovery possible so that individuals can live healthy, productive, and independent lives. This treatment has also been proven to:

  • Improve patient survival
  • Increase retention in treatment
  • Decrease illicit use of opiates and other illegal activity among people with substance use disorders
  • Increase the patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
  • Improve birth outcomes in women who are pregnant and have substance use disorders
  • Lower a patient’s risk of contracting HIV or Hepatitis C by reducing relapse potential

How Does Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Work?

Before starting medication-assisted treatment, a physician, addiction specialist, or qualified healthcare professional will perform an assessment to determine the right MAT program for you or your loved one, including the best medications for your needs.

The physician, with the help of a medical and psychiatry team, will evaluate your health, history of substance use, and treatment goals to develop a customized medication plan. They’ll monitor your progress and adjust your prescription or dosage if necessary during your treatment.

The first step in treatment is medical detoxification followed by inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. The medications a patient receives will vary, depending on the disorder being treated, but all of them have undergone trials and research to ensure they’re safe and effective.

These medications normalize a person’s brain chemistry, blocking the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids. They also relieve physical withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings and help your body’s functioning get back to normal.

How Long Does Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Take?

People can safely take MAT-prescribed medications to improve their health and well-being in the short term or long term, for months or years. The length of treatment will depend on the severity of the patient’s condition, and the need for MAT will be regularly evaluated by their physician.

Physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical personnel must complete training to provide MAT and prescribe and administer FDA-approved medications.

MAT can be done on an outpatient basis, as part of a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) accredited and certified treatment program.

Treatment will initially focus on stabilizing the patient, removing dependence on the substance, taking medications to help manage the withdrawal, and then empowering the patient with healthy coping skills and a strong support system to help them fully recover from addiction.

Therapy and Counseling: Essential Components of MAT

While medication helps people recover from the physical side of addiction, they are most effective when paired with counseling and behavioral therapy to address mental health concerns. These include learning to identify triggers and stressors and how to deal with them.

Most MAT programs require patients to engage in a suitable type of therapy alongside medication, to give them as many tools as necessary to live a life free from substance abuse.

Here are some of the behavioral treatments that are used as an essential part of MAT:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Addiction Counseling
  • Family Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Peer Support Groups

Approved Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a substance use disorder characterized by constant cravings for opioids and continued use despite negative effects on physical and psychological well-being.

OUD can range from dependence on opioids to addiction, affecting more than 16 million people worldwide and over 2.1 million individuals in the United States.

There are three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of opioid use disorder:

  • Buprenorphine: An opioid medication that binds to and activates opioid receptors in the brain, resulting in milder withdrawal symptoms and reduced cravings.
  • Naltrexone: An opioid antagonist that blocks the euphoric and calming effects of opioids. Available in both pill and injection form only upon prescription by a physician.
  • Methadone: Medication that reduces opioid cravings and relieves withdrawal symptoms. Comes in tablets, oral solutions, or injectable liquid dispensed only in approved clinics.

Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are used to treat opioid use disorders involving short-acting opioids, including heroin, morphine, and codeine, as well as semi-synthetic opioids such as hydrocodone and oxycodone.

All three of these medications have been demonstrated to be safe and effective. The FDA is also working on promoting treatment awareness for OUD, expanding treatment access, and developing therapies to address the disorder.

Approved Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), people with alcohol use disorders, sometimes called alcoholism, drink to excess, endangering both themselves and others.

Symptoms include craving beverages containing alcohol, being unable to stop or control the amount that you drink, failing to meet work or family responsibilities because of drinking, developing a high tolerance to alcohol, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms without it.

Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate, or severe. The good news is that this condition is highly treatable, and evidence-based programs and FDA-approved medications are available to help individuals achieve and maintain full recovery.

Treatment for alcohol use disorder includes behavioral therapy and medication, such as:

  • Acamprosate: Medication that reduces alcohol cravings after a person completes detoxification. Available by prescription in the form of delayed-release tablets.
  • Disulfiram: Designed to decrease drinking behavior by causing unpleasant side effects like headache, nausea, and vomiting within 10 to 30 minutes of consuming alcohol.
  • Naltrexone: Blocks the rewarding and euphoric effects of alcohol to decrease drinking and prevent relapse. Available in many forms, like daily pills and long-lasting injections.

Approved Medications for Tobacco Use Disorder

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Tobacco use disorder is a problematic pattern of tobacco use, that leads to significant distress or impairment to an individual’s life.

Smoking cessation medications and treatments approved by the FDA have been found to help individuals quit smoking, and can even double the chances of a person quitting successfully.

  • Nicotine Replacement Therapy: A treatment that helps people stop smoking by using steady, controlled doses of nicotine that are gradually decreased over time. Available as patches, lozenges, gums, inhalers, and nasal sprays.
  • Bupropion: Antidepressant that lowers cravings and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
  • Varenicline: Medication that makes smoking less pleasurable and decreases discomfort for people who quit.

Research shows that smokers who receive a combination of cessation medications and behavioral treatment quit smoking at higher rates than people who get minimal intervention. Both in-person and phone counseling have been helpful for patients using medications.

Misconceptions About Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

There have been many misconceptions about medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and its use, which can hinder individuals who are suffering from substance use disorders from getting help or make them hesitant about asking for the type of treatment that they need.

One common myth is that MAT is simply “substituting one drug for another.” However, there’s a distinct difference between using substances as the result of a disorder and taking FDA-approved medications as part of MAT.

Substance use disorder negatively affects a person’s mind and body, and significantly interferes with their relationships and responsibilities at school, work, and home. Meanwhile, the purpose of MAT is to help individuals completely heal from addiction, so they can live meaningful lives.

Find Medication-Assisted Treatment in New York Today

There is more than one path to complete and successful recovery from addiction. For some individuals, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can be a life-saving tool that can help them overcome alcohol, opioid, or tobacco use disorder and achieve a healthy, addiction-free life.

If you or a loved one want to start your healing journey today, Mid Hudson Addiction Recovery offers MAT and other forms of treatment that can help you win the fight against addiction.

Reach out to our recovery advocates for a confidential assessment. We are available round the clock, so call us anytime, or visit our contact page to learn more about our treatment services. Together, we’ll take the first step to recover and rebuild your life.