Medication Assisted Treatment

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a proven, compassionate approach to treating substance use disorders, especially opioid and alcohol use disorders. At its core, MAT combines FDA-approved medications with psychiatric care, therapy, and ongoing support to help individuals stabilize, heal, and reclaim their lives.

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Recovery is not about willpower alone.

Recovery can be one of the hardest journeys a person ever takes, filled with moments of hope, setbacks, cravings, and the quiet exhaustion of trying again after relapse. Many people want recovery deeply, yet find themselves fighting powerful brain-based changes that make willpower alone feel impossible.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) helps bridge that gap by easing cravings, stabilizing brain chemistry, and giving the nervous system room to heal. Instead of spending every day battling withdrawal or urges, patients can finally focus on therapy, relationships, and rebuilding their lives.

Control cravings and achieve wellness.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) recognizes that substance use disorders are medical conditions — and effective treatment should address both the brain and the whole person. Utilizing specific medications, such as buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) and naltrexone (Vivitrol), alongside psychotherapy, psychiatric care, and behavioral interventions, patients with substance use disorders have more support for sustainable recovery.

Recovery takes work, but MAT makes that work more achievable, sustainable, and humane.

Who can MAT help?

What medications are used in MAT?

MAT medications are FDA-approved and prescribed under careful medical supervision. The medication used to support recovery depends on the type of use disorder.

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex): helps reduce cravings and withdrawal while lowering the risk of misuse
Methadone: a long-acting medication typically provided through specialized programs
Naltrexone (Vivitrol): blocks the effects of opioids and reduces cravings once detox is complete

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

Naltrexone: reduces alcohol cravings and the rewarding effects of drinking
Acamprosate (Campral): helps stabilize brain chemistry after alcohol cessation
Disulfiram (Antabuse): creates an unpleasant reaction to alcohol to support abstinence

Your psychiatric provider will discuss benefits, risks, and alternatives before starting any medication.

How does MAT work?

Medication-Assisted Treatment works by directly addressing the biological changes in the brain caused by substance use, helping to restore balance and reduce the constant push and pull of cravings and withdrawal.

When combined with therapy and comprehensive psychiatric care, MAT can stabilize mood and brain chemistry, lower the risk of relapse, and create the conditions needed for lasting recovery.

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What the benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Research consistently shows that MAT improves outcomes for people with substance use disorders. Benefits may include:

Fewer relapses and overdoses
Improved emotional and psychological stability
Better engagement in therapy and daily life
Reduced risk of hospitalization or emergency care
Increased ability to work, parent, and maintain relationships
Higher long-term recovery success rates

MAT does not replace one addiction with another. When used as prescribed, these medications support recovery—not dependence.

MAT is integrated into a whole-person treatment approach. Medication is just one part of care, alongside psychiatric evaluation, medication management, individual therapy or counseling, treatment for co-occurring conditions, and ongoing monitoring, education, and support.

There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.

– Leonard Cohen

FAQ About MAT

Got questions? Get answers.

Making big changes is never easy, but knowing what to expect can make those big changes feel more manageable. Here are some commonly asked questions about medication assisted treatment.

Is MAT safe?

Yes, MAT medications are FDA-approved and carefully monitored by qualified providers.

Will I need MAT forever?

Not necessarily. The length of treatment time varies by individual and depends on the pace of each person’s recovery. Dosages are regularly reassessed and adjusted when the time is right.

Does MAT mean I’m not “really sober”?

MAT is a medically accepted form of treatment endorsed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Association, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Using prescribed medication as part of recovery is a valid, evidence-based treatment for addiction.

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