Recovery Concepts LLC is a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinic for opioid addiction located in East Hazel Crest, IL. We have been serving the south Chicago suburbs for over 25 years. During this time we have seen the internet transform the way we practice and the way patients receive information.
Over the past year we have been updating our technology, most notably our webpage, in an attempt to reach more people and facilitate communication with our patients. While doing this we’ve realized that we now have the power to reach a much broader audience with answers to questions and concerns regarding opiate addiction and recovery.
The goal of this blog is to provide useful information concerning opiate addiction, communicate new developments in treatment, and answer questions we hear frequently from patients.
So with that introduction let’s get started. A fitting topic for the first post that gets right to the heart of things is explaining what exactly medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is. As most people are aware, we are in the midst of an opiate addiction and overdose epidemic. The Department of Health and Human Services has declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. MAT has repeatedly been shown to be the most effective form of therapy for opioid addiction.
So what is MAT? Broadly speaking, therapy for opioid addiction can be divided into 2 categories: abstinence based and medication-assisted. The difference between the two is that abstinence based therapies do not use medication during treatment while MAT does. Numerous studies have shown that MAT results in less chance of relapse, less chance of overdose, and decreased risk of acquiring illnesses associated with IV drug use when compared to abstinence-based treatment.
So what medications are used during MAT and why? Most commonly methadone or buprenorphine are utilized during MAT. Methadone is an opioid agonist, while buprenorphine is a partial agonist, meaning they activate the opiate receptor in the brain. Buprenorphine is commonly prescribed as one of the primary components of Suboxone. The medications are given to prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce physiological craving for opiates.
One point to be stressed is that MAT involves the use of medication in addition to counseling. While the medications help deal with the physiologic aspects of drug cessation, the counseling is necessary to deal with the stressors and life situations that need to be confronted in order to have the best chance at lasting recovery.
One question we hear repeatedly is, “Isn’t MAT just substituting one drug for another?” No. During MAT medications are prescribed, by a licensed healthcare professional, with the clear intent of reducing withdrawal symptoms and decreasing cravings in an attempt to give patients the best chance of preventing relapse, overdose, and high risk behaviors. The dose of the medication is titrated for each patient to best suit their needs. In addition, medication is just one aspect of MAT. Counseling is the other critical component.
Is MAT right for you? No one can answer that question without examining your unique situation. Each individual is different. Research has shown that MAT is the most effective treatment for opioid addiction and is widely underutilized. So it is worth considering? Yes.