Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction is the use of medications — including buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), methadone, or naltrexone (Vivitrol) — to treat opioid use disorder, thereby reducing opioid cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and overdose risk.[1,2,3]
Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose. MAT is most effective when used in conjunction with counseling and psychosocial support.[4]
MAT is critical for preventing overdose and death. A study on the effectiveness of long-term MAT found that one year after initiating treatment, 75% of patients were still in recovery.[5]
Stopping MAT is also directly correlated with relapse to opioid use. In a review of multiple studies, more than half of patients return to opioid use within one month of stopping MAT with buprenorphine.[6]
Benefits of Suboxone include helping patients to feel normal and healthy. When taken as prescribed by a medical provider, MAT treats addiction and can prevent the negative impacts of uncontrolled opioid use on daily functioning and long-term life goals.
MAT is widely regarded as the most effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD).[7] A comprehensive MAT regime involves both medication and therapy, treating the whole person in a holistic treatment style.
In a Medication for Addiction Treatment program, you’ll start with an assessment from a clinician. You’ll discuss your opioid use, including the specific opioid used, average doses, and duration of use. The clinician will assess you for any co-occurring conditions, including both medical and mental health issues.
If appropriate, you’ll be prescribed medication to address OUD. Depending on the specifics of the program, you’ll have a treatment plan created for you that includes behavioral therapy, alternative therapies, health coaching, and supportive activities.
MAT is a long-term treatment for OUD. Generally, patients remain on MAT for months or years. Some remain on MAT indefinitely.
Studies show that short-term MAT does not support sustained recovery in the same way.[6] As a result, longer treatment durations are recommended.
Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are the primary medications used in MAT. These are often given in brand-name medications such as Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) and Vivitrol (naltrexone).
The original medication used in Medication-Assisted Treatment, methadone effectively relieves opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings for those with opioid use disorder.
Due to its high potential for abuse, methadone can only be dispensed at specialized clinics. It cannot be prescribed to be taken at home.
When taken as directed, methadone is safe and effective. A study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health showed that long-term methadone use can cause changes in the brain, affecting memory and learning abilities.[8] Overall, methadone is considered an effective MAT, particularly for heroin addiction.[9]
This medication is a partial opioid agonist. It binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, but it does so less strongly than full opioids like heroin and methadone. As a result, it reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings when users stop using opioids.
Because buprenorphine has a lower abuse potential than methadone, it is often the chosen medication for MAT.[10] It is ultimately viewed as a safer medication than methadone.[7]
Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone that is often the preferred form of buprenorphine for MAT. Naloxone serves as an abuse-deterrent.
This medication is approved by the FDA to treat both alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. It is an opioid agonist so it blocks the effects of opioids in the brain. This means people will not experience euphoria or other positive effects from opioids if they take them while on naltrexone.[11]
Patients have had issues with sticking with naltrexone therapy, so its use is limited compared to buprenorphine and methadone for opioid use disorder.[11]
Medication-Assisted Treatment is considered the gold standard in treating patients with opioid use disorder. Studies repeatedly show that MAT reduces cravings for opioids and eliminates or lessens opioid withdrawal symptoms.[12,13]
Participation in MAT is associated with substantial reductions in overdose death rates.[14] A large meta-analysis showed a doubling in overdose death rates when patients discontinued buprenorphine treatment and a tripling in overdose death rates when patients stopped methadone maintenance treatment.[15]
Ongoing maintenance treatment with buprenorphine has been shown to reduce death rates by 50%.[14,16] As much as 90% of patients on MAT maintain sobriety after two years in treatment.[17]
When opioid use disorder is managed, virtually every aspect of life improves — daily living, overall health, mood, career prospects, family relationships, financial situations, and quality of life. MAT makes relapse to opioid use much less likely, enabling a path to a brighter future.
Whether MAT is right for you will depend on your history of opioid use and attempts at recovery. For most people dealing with opioid use disorder, Medication for Addiction Treatment will be the right choice.
MAT will enable you to fully focus on recovery and building a life in sobriety since withdrawal symptoms and cravings will be controlled.
You don’t have to live with uncontrolled opioid use disorder any longer. MAT can help you move toward a healthier, more balanced life.
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