Medication Assisted Treatment
What Is Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)?
Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is an evidence-based addiction treatment that utilizes medications combined with counseling and behavioral therapies to reduce the risk of relapse and overdose and manage and maintain recovery.
All the medications used in MAT are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They have proven to effectively relieve withdrawal symptoms during medical detox and alleviate psychological cravings that cause chemical imbalances in the brain and body during rehabilitation. The prescribed medications work to normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric feelings of opioids and alcohol, and stabilize the body without the harmful effects of a substance.
Learn more about co-occurring disorders.
Benefits of Medication Assisted Treatment
The ultimate goal of medication assisted treatment is complete recovery. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrates that plenty of research suggests MAT, especially when used in conjunction with therapy, improves the treatment outcomes for individuals battling addiction.
The benefits of MAT include:
- Reduced potential for relapse and overdose
- Relieved pain and discomfort from withdrawal during detox
- Increased retentiveness in treatment
- Decreased illicit drug use and other criminal activities among people with substance use disorders
- Helps stop alcohol and drug cravings after detox
When integrated into substance abuse treatment that uses other proven therapies, these medications help residents taper during detox, significantly lowering the risk of overdose and relapse and successfully managing their disorders to live a fulfilling life in recovery— such as the MAT program we provide at White Oak Recovery Center.
How White Oak Recovery Center Utilizes MAT
At WORC, medications are an addition to treatment, never a replacement. Our clinical, multidisciplinary team determines the use of medication-assisted treatment on an individual, case-by-case basis by carefully assessing each resident’s situation. If deemed necessary and beneficial, residents can continue with MAT during their treatment; some residents may require extended-release medication to block more severe cravings during the recovery process to help prevent relapse. Any medication used during your treatment at White Oak Recovery Center is always incorporated into your treatment plan, involving a comprehensive range of treatment modalities, therapies, and individual and group counseling sessions.
