Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is an addiction treatment that incorporates counseling, behavioral therapies, and medications to help people overcome substance use disorders. MAT is a practical and essential approach to addiction treatment. Let’s explore the benefits of MAT, the different types of medications used in MAT, and the challenges associated with this form of treatment.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is more practical when compared to nonmedical approaches in bringing about better outcomes. A MAT program may be the best option if your addiction is severe enough to warrant detox.
Medication-assisted treatment therapy has many advantages, including:
Reduces withdrawal discomfort and appetite stimulation, making the withdrawal process more manageable.
Decreases the potential for fatal overdose.
Improves adherence to therapy with regulated, safer drugs.
Reduces drug abuse and, by extension, the risks and penalties associated with that behavior.
When combined with counseling conversations and behavioral therapy, it prevents recurrence.
Medications Used for Substance Abuse Disorders
Approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for multiple drugs to treat substance abuse is essential in medications for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. These drugs correct the chemical imbalances brought on by withdrawal and psychological urges. The medications employed are not merely substitutes for one another. They include:
Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder(MAUD)
Medications such as acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone are widely used to help those who suffer from alcoholism. They are most helpful for people actively engaged in a treatment program but do not cure the disorder.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder(MOUD)
The most widely prescribed drugs for OUD treatment are buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. These drugs effectively restore balance to the brain's chemistry, blocking the effects of euphoria by alcohol and opioids and alleviating cravings to restore normal bodily functioning—eliminating the adverse impact or feeling of euphoria from the initially induced substance.
Medication to Reduce the Risk of Opioid Overdose
Preventing an opioid overdose is possible with naloxone, which works by blocking the drug's effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes naloxone as a necessary drug for a successful healthcare system.
Challenges of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Most drugs used in MAT are opiates, which are highly addictive. The medication can cause several problems, such as:
Abusing the drugs by selling them to people who use them for fun. Patients should only use MAT during the first few weeks of detox and early withdrawal.
Physical dependence. People who use MAT tend to rely on medication as their primary treatment instead of working to heal the psychological and emotional problems that lead to addiction.
The drugs could also lead to different side effects depending on the user.
Takeaways
Medication-Assisted Treatment is a proven method for treating substance use disorders and improves outcomes for individuals wondering how to get treatment. We can not ignore the benefits of this treatment even though it is associated with stigma and limited access.
All recovery processes should also include psychological treatment to help the person handle their addiction and learn alternative ways to deal with conflicts, past trauma, other contributing factors, and stress.
