Even with a strong counseling program, it’s challenging to make a lasting recovery from opioid addiction without support for withdrawal symptoms and cravings. A medication-assisted treatment program can be the factor that helps lead a patient to long-term recovery rather than opioid relapse. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has been studied for decades, and it’s clinically proven to help patients overcome opioid abuse. However, stopping the use of opioids is just one of the many benefits of choosing a treatment program that offers MAT.
MD M.A.T.T. offers outpatient opioid addiction treatment in White Marsh, MD. Our program combines MAT with technologies, counseling, and more to provide patients with the support they need to stop opioid abuse for good. To learn more about MAT and to get help for opioid abuse in White Marsh, call 410.505.7434 and ask about the addiction treatment programs available at MD M.A.T.T.
Differences Between Medication-Assisted Treatment vs. Detox
Medication-assisted treatment and detox are two different options for helping a patient stop abusing opioids. When you’re looking for an opioid addiction treatment program, it can be challenging to understand the difference between medication-assisted treatment vs. detox.
Detox is the beginning step of substance use treatment. During the detox process, a patient detoxes from opioids and stabilizes mentally and physically. A patient who undergoes detox does so in anticipation of completing a substance use treatment program. A detox may be aided with MAT-approved medications for the duration of the detox, which typically lasts four to seven days.
In contrast, MAT is used in conjunction with substance use treatment rather than before treatment begins. Unlike the detox process, MAT provides ongoing recovery support. MAT patients experience relief from severe opioid cravings that often remain long after the detox is complete.
MAT Helps Patients Focus on the Future
The medications used in MAT have been clinically proven to help increase long-term recovery outcomes. The FDA approves all MAT medications, and MAT is the opioid treatment method recommended by leading organizations like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Addiction treatment combining MAT with other therapies is the most effective way to stop opioid abuse.
MAT also helps patients focus on their future by addressing underlying mental health issues and providing support for finding stable housing, employment, and other resources necessary for long-term success in recovery. MAT can help patients stay sober and achieve their goals for a fulfilling life in recovery.
Top Benefits of MAT
Several medications have approval for MAT, but the oldest and most frequently used medication option is Suboxone, a blend of buprenorphine and naloxone. MAT medications like Suboxone are a unique tool in opioid addiction treatment.
No other method of treating opioid addiction can provide relief from cravings. This psychological effect of opioid addiction is one of the leading causes of relapse, even after a detox program is complete. Decades of research confirm that patients who undergo MAT experience benefits that include:
- Reduction in withdrawal symptoms
- Fewer and less severe opioid cravings
- Longer periods of recovery
- Higher treatment retention rates
- Higher employment rates
- Reduced risk of overdose
- Reduction in illegal activity and legal issues
- Fewer serious physical health concerns
The benefits of MAT aren’t just short-term relief from withdrawal symptoms. They provide a patient with the support that allows them to focus on building a future free from opioid addiction.
MD M.A.T.T. Offers Medication-Assisted Treatment in White Marsh, MD
The most effective way to make a lasting recovery from opioid addiction is to use all the tools available. And one of the most powerful tools is MAT. MD M.A.T.T. uses medication-assisted treatment to help patients overcome opioid addiction and set plans and goals for tomorrow. We offer medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone, along with therapy and education, to address addiction’s physical, mental, and behavioral aspects. Our outpatient services allow treatment to fit conveniently into your schedule.
Learn more about MAT and opioid addiction treatment in White Marsh and the benefits of MAT, MD, by contacting MD M.A.T.T. at 410.505.7434.
