Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

 

Medication-Assisted Treatment or MAT uses safe and effective medications to manage withdrawal sysmptoms, combined with counseling and therapy to help you with psychological and behavioral challenges necessary to treat alcohol or substance use disorders.

 

MAT reduces the distressing effects of withdrawal that will likely occur when you stop using a substance you’re addicted to. Effects of withdrawal include:

• Sweating

• Shaking

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Body aches

• Abdominal pain

• Headaches

• Depression

• Cravings

The medications prescribed by the AYA Rehab Center experts can reduce withdrawal symptoms and lessen cravings for harmful, addictive substances. They’re highly effective for treating opioid use disorder. 

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What are the advantages of Medication-Assisted Treatment?

 

Medication-Assisted Treatment offers the following benefits:

• Reduced cravings 

• Fewer withdrawal symptoms

• Restore brain chemestry 

• Improved recovery from substance misuse

• Decrease chance of relapse

• Better overall quality of life

• Improved well-being

• High success rates

Medication-Assisted Treatments at AYA Rehab Center make it easier to overcome dependency and stay sober long-term.

 

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Am I a candidate for Medication-Assisted Treatment?

 

Individuals with substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder who are over 18, might be good candidates for medication-assisted treatment. There are numerous factors to consider such as prior relapse history, medication interactions, and willingness to comply with treatment.  

 

These individuals may also be dealing with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other mental health concerns.

 

Signs of substance misuse include:

• Inability to stop using harmful substances

• Withdrawal symptoms when stopping a substance

• Taking larger and larger amounts of a substance

• Being drunk or high

• Strong urges to use harmful substances

• Risky behaviors

• Hiding substance use from others

• Mood swings

• Frequent accidents

• Wanting to stop using a harmful substance but not being able to

• Confusion

• Seizures 

Your provider gets to know you to determine if you’re a match for medication-assisted treatment. They discuss your mood, emotions, thoughts, behaviors, lifestyle habits, current medications, medical history, and ways you’ve tried to stop using substances in the past. You might also take a drug test. 

 

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What should I expect during Medication-Assisted Treatment?

 

AYA Rehab Center offers medication-assisted treatment via a residential detoxification program. The teams provider closely monitors you under the use of specific medications. Medications for alcohol use disorder can include: sedatives such as Lorazepam or anticonvulsants such as Gabapentin (during detox phase), and Acamprosate, Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and Vivitrol post-detox. Medications for opioid use disorder can include: Buprenorphine, Methadone, Naltrexone, Sublocade and other medicines.

 

Whether you are looking for a medication-assisted detox or more long-term medication treatment, which you can eventually taper off of after completing treatment, Aya Rehab Center is here to help.

 

When taking medications, you also may undergo individual therapy, group therapy, or other therapies to increase the chance of a successful outcome. 

 

The AYA Rehab Center team provides referrals if you’re a candidate for outpatient care or a sober living house.