Medication Assisted Treatment

Achieve & maintain recovery with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

The first step in addiction treatment with RCA is minimizing cravings and physical withdrawals. Whether that means going through medically monitored detoxificatio n or participating in MAT, the choice is yours and yours alone. It’s important to know what your options are, so you can pick the right one for you.

MAT is an option many clients use to help jumpstart that journey. You decide how to reach recovery; RCA will provide you with the available treatment modalities. Much like the disease of addiction, there are myths and stigma surrounding the use of MAT. Here are a few things you’ll want to know about MAT before deciding if it’s right for you. Or, if you’d rather talk it out with an addiction treatment professional, you can always call us at 1-800-RECOVERY to discuss more treatment options.

MAT benefits

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), MAT has been clinically effective in helping people achieve and maintain recovery. Because MAT provides a comprehensive, individually tailored program of both medication and behavioral therapy, this formula is often the key our clients need to stay in long-term recovery.

MAT has been shown to:

Improve patient survival.
Increase retention in treatment.
Decrease illicit opiate use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders.
Increase clients’ ability to gain and maintain employment.
Improve birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders and are pregnant.

Additional research shows that these medications and therapies can lower a person’s risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis C by reducing the potential for relapse.

Types of MAT medication RCA uses:

Clients who participate in an MAT program at our locations will come in each day, receive their predetermined dose, and attend group and individual counseling sessions at a frequency determined by their therapist.

*offerings vary by location

The FDA-approved medications RCA uses are prescribed and distributed by medical staff who understand the complexity of addiction.

Here’s how these particular medications work for clients:

Methadone

Methadone is perhaps the most well-known and highly-regulated medication used during treatment for opioid addiction, Methadone is a full agonist. This means it combines with receptors in the brain and nervous system to produce the desired effect.

This combination lessens the painful symptoms of opioid withdrawal and blocks the euphoric effects of an opiate drug. When Methadone is administered properly during MAT, the patient feels normal, does not physically crave opiates, and does not become lethargic. Methadone is administered once per day via a liquid solution.

Methadone dosages need to be slowly built up over time to avoid the risk of overdosing. Methadone can be dangerous when abused.

Click for more information about Methadone Treatment

Suboxone (Buprenorphine)

While Methadone is a full agonist, the FDA-approved Suboxone (buprenorphine) is a partial agonist that is used during medication-assisted treatment. This means it does not bind fully to opioid receptors like Methadone.

Comprised of buprenorphine and naloxone, Suboxone is effective for treating opioid withdrawal as it alleviates the physical symptoms, as well as decreases cravings for continued opioid use. If an individual attempts to abuse opioids—such as heroin and prescription painkillers—while taking Suboxone, that person will experience adverse results because naloxone counteracts the effects that opioids have on the brain.

RCA offers Suboxone in our MAT programming and Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT).

Click for more information about Suboxone Treatment

Learn the difference Methadone vs. Suboxone

VIVITROL^® (Extended Release Injectable Naltrexone)

This FDA-approved injectable medication is an antagonist designed to avert cravings for an extended amount of time. Administered only once each month during a medication-assisted treatment program, this naltrexone-based medication wards off opioid cravings, alleviates physical symptoms of withdrawal, and prevents overdose from occurring. VIVITROL^® requires the user to abstain from any opiate for 14 days before the first injection.

If you decide to enter our MAT program, you may eventually be eligible to receive take-home doses, but only for a few days at a time. RCA facilities offer more than just MAT. We also provide:

Educational seminars and workshops
STD screening
Physical examinations
Psychological assessments
Job readiness programs

Sublocade

This monthly injection is an extended release of Buprenorphine. Similar to Suboxone, Buprenorphine is an opiate that activates receptors in the brain – but in a controlled fashion. This means there will be no euphoric feelings that cause cravings. Once injected by a medical professional, Sublocade begins to distribute throughout the body, working to minimize withdrawal symptoms while reducing cravings.

When used as a part of a complete treatment program – one that also includes counseling and medical supervision – Sublocade can help adults achieve and maintain recovery.

Subutex (Buprenorphine)

The active ingredient in Subutex is buprenorphine, just like in Suboxone. The two medications are nearly identical in effect, route of administrational and duration, the main difference between them being the additional ingredient Naloxone in Suboxone. Naloxone is added to the formulation of Suboxone to prevent misuse of the medication, however some people don’t tolerate Naloxone, and it is also not recommended for pregnant women. Unlike Suboxone, Subutex does not contain Naloxone, which makes it the go to partial agonist opioid addiction treatment option for those who can’t take Suboxone.