What is Medication Assisted Treatment?
After years of depending on a substance like heroin it can be difficult to overcome the intense cravings of wanting to use. Even worse, if that person does stop abruptly, they are plagued with withdrawals. The fear of withdrawing from heroin, or any addictive substance can be enough to resist treatment. They may feel stuck in their addiction with the constant fear of cravings and withdrawals keeping them in this life destroying cycle.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) can be utilized to help a person keep those cravings and withdrawals at bay. MAT is the use of medications, counseling and behavioral therapies to gradually recover from years of substance abuse. Research depicts that medication-assisted treatment improves the overall quality of life for those who are recovering from substance abuse:
In a study of 933 heroin-dependent patients in methadone maintenance treatment programs there were decreases in narcotic abuse, arrests, criminal activity, and drug soliciting (Powers and Anglin, 1993).
In a 2.5-year follow up study of 150 opiate-dependent patients, methadone maintenance treatment resulted in some substantial improvements in medical, social, psychological, legal, and employment problems (Kosten, Rounsaville, and Kleber, 1987).
A systematic review conducted on 28 studies involving 7,900 patients has demonstrated significant reductions in HIV risk behaviors in patients receiving methadone maintenance (Gowing, Farrell, Bornemann, et al., 2004).
These are just a few examples of how properly administered medication-assisted treatment could positively influence someone who is recovering from drug addictions. Medication-assisted treatment is mainly utilized for opiate abuse.
MAT medications are taken to normalize brain chemistry, relieve intense cravings, block the high/euphoric feelings of opiates and other drugs, and normalize body functions. Medications used in medication-assisted treatment must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Opioid Dependency Medication-Assisted Treatment Medication
According to the results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated of 2 million people in the United States are addicted to or dependent on opiate-based substances. Withdrawals from these substances are so intense that they continue abusing these substances to avoid the withdrawal side effects. Common MAT medications for opiate dependency are:
Methadone
Methadone is an opiate that has been utilized to treat opioid addiction since the 1950s. Patients who make the decision to use Methadone for MAT must go through a reviewing process from a treatment team. The dosage is individually craft based on that reviewing process and requires the patient to visit the methadone clinic daily for their regulated dosage. This medication reduces their withdrawal symptoms and cravings to achieve a normal regulated brain function.
Like other opioids, Methadone is addictive and can be abused if not properly monitored and administered.
Suboxone
Suboxone contains a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is an opioid medication, sometimes called a narcotic. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioid medication, including pain relief or feelings of well-being that can lead to opioid abuse.
Buprenorphine
Like Methadone, Buprenorphine reduces cravings for the abused substance. This MAT medication is the first to treat opioid dependency that can be prescribed or dispensed in a doctor’s office. Buprenorphine is long acting as compared to Methadone. This means that the patient can visit the clinic every other day rather than once a day.
Naltrexone
Naloxone is a MAT medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent overdose by opiates such as heroin and oxycodone. Naltrexone effects the body differently than Buprenorphine and Methadone. If a person using naltrexone and experiences a relapse, blocks opioid receptor sites preventing the sedative or euphoric effects of that substance. This in itself deter people from relapsing knowing that they will not get the high they are chasing.
