Researching rehab for opioid use is likely to bring up many unfamiliar terms. One of your first questions will likely be, “What is MAT?” MAT is short for “medication-assisted treatment.”
It’s one of the most popular forms of treatment for opioid addiction, and it can be a powerful tool for helping you achieve a lasting recovery from opioid use.
Vertava Health of Mississippi Outpatient is a leading provider of substance use treatment in Mississippi. We offer our clients access to a variety of effective addiction therapies, including medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.
Call 888.498.2376 today to learn more about MAT and opioid addiction treatment at Vertava Health of Mississippi Outpatient.
What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
When asking, “What is medication-assisted treatment?” The short answer is that it’s one of the most effective ways of treating opioid addiction.
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, also known as “MAT,” is a form of treatment that involves taking a medication that helps stop opioid cravings and significantly diminishes the effects of an opioid if a relapse occurs.
MAT has been around for decades. All medications used in MAT are FDA-approved and clinically proven to significantly increase treatment retention rates and long-term recovery from opioid addiction. The medications most commonly used in MAT include:
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex)
- Methadone
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
MAT is proven to have such a high success rate that it has become the primary method of treating opioid use disorder recommended by leading organizations like the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Who Should Try MAT?
Once you have an answer to the question, “What is MAT?” your next question is probably, “Is MAT right for me?”
The most effective addiction treatment programs offer individualized treatment plans. This means that the only way to truly know if MAT is the right approach for you is to contact an opioid rehab and undergo the evaluation process.
However, MAT is a game-changing approach to overcoming opioid use disorder. This means that if you’re working to overcome opioid addiction, it can make a significant difference in your recovery. Signs MAT might be right for you include:
- Addiction to opioids (heroin, fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, etc.)
- History of relapse
- Previous enrollment in rehab
- Strong opioid cravings
- Long-term opioid use
MAT helps opioid addiction recovery rates regardless of how long you’ve used opioids. However, it can be particularly life-changing for those who have made prior attempts at stopping opioid use but have struggled to maintain lasting recovery.
What Are the Benefits of MAT?
One of MAT’s greatest benefits is that it relieves one of the biggest obstacles to opioid addiction—cravings. Opioid cravings are often overwhelming, even after physical dependence is no longer a problem.
The medications used in MAT bind to the brain’s opioid receptors. This allows brain chemistry and function to stabilize and significantly reduce the likelihood and intensity of opioid cravings.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), some of the many additional benefits associated with MAT include:
- Increased treatment retention rates
- Decreased opioid use rates
- Decreased opioid overdose deaths
- Decreased criminal activity or legal problems
- Reduced rate of infectious disease
- Increased employment rates
- Improved social functioning
MAT medications help provide the physical and mental stability that allows clients to fully focus on treatment and support them as they work to meet their goals for recovery.
Learn More About Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction at Vertava Health of Mississippi Outpatient
At Vertava Health of Mississippi Outpatient, we strive to provide clients with as many resources as possible to overcome dependence on opioids. We offer medication-assisted treatment in conjunction with group and individual therapies.
Our flexible outpatient programs make it possible to access opioid addiction treatment without sacrificing home or work obligations. Contact us at 888.498.2376 today to learn more about what MAT is and how our MAT for opioid addiction can help you or a loved one.
