Addiction is more than a mental health issue — it’s a chemical dependency. When you decide to pursue recovery, you’re doing so with altered brain chemistry. While it’s possible to overcome addiction with therapy alone, it’s difficult and not necessarily the right path for everyone.

That’s where medication assisted treatment comes in. Rather than considering opioid use disorder as a strictly psychological issue, this approach takes into account and addresses how substance use affects brain chemistry.

What Is Medication Assisted Treatment?

MAT is an addiction treatment that uses FDA-approved medications to help patients achieve long-term recovery. These medications can be life-saving and ease patients through the recovery process.

Medications Utilized

What is Evzio?

It is a prescription medicine used in adults and children for the treatment of an opioid emergency such as an overdose or a possible opioid overdose with signs of breathing problems and severe sleepiness or not being able to respond. EVZIO is to be given right away and does not take the place of emergency medical care.

What is Buprenorphine?

It is an office-based opioid partial agonist that blocks other narcotics while reducing withdrawal risk. It is in the form of a daily dissolving tablet, cheek film, subcutaneous injection, or six-month implant under the skin. We have discount cards that can save you up to $225 on medication, as well as a patient assistance program that can pay for your medication completely! Call Kolbe Health Services today.

What is Naltrexone?

It is an office-based non-addictive opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of other narcotics. It is taken as a daily pill or monthly injection. Check out the Sinclair method for more details.

Counseling Required

It’s important to understand that MAT isn’t as simple as taking a pill and being cured. Instead, it’s one of many tools available to patients as they work through their substance use disorder.

In addition to taking medication, patients also undergo behavioral therapy and counseling. Behavior therapy provides individuals with emotional and psychological tools to combat self-destructive impulses. Counseling helps them unpack and process the trauma that often accompanies addiction. All three techniques used in tandem are essential to long-term recovery.

Why Choose MAT Over Other Forms of Treatment?

As we said before, the chemical aspect of OUD makes it a complex condition to treat. If patients do not have every available support for their recovery, they may be set up to fail.

Studies indicate MAT is more effective than non-medicated approaches alone. In fact, it offers several benefits:
- Reducing infectious disease transmission risks
- Improving social functioning
- Increasing treatment retention
Perhaps most importantly, MAT medications significantly decrease the risk of overdose and increase stability.

How Does MAT Work?

Without the use of medication, withdrawal can be painful. Whether patients use street drugs or prescription medication, their bodies have become reliant on the substance. Once the substance has left their systems, they can experience any of the following:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches
- Anxiety
- Agitation
These symptoms represent a barrier to recovery, as many patients are not willing or able to endure them.

Even if patients have successfully worked through withdrawal, they may have cravings. These can be prompted by familiar situations, psychological stress, or another trigger.

MAT prescriptions alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings by addressing the chemical cause. Patients cannot process opioids when taking these medications and therefore do not experience euphoria.

What Is the Treatment Process Like?

MAT allows patients to pursue out-patient treatment for OUD and other substance use disorders. You can continue to work, study, live at home, and, most importantly, participate in your loved ones’ lives.

However, there are various patient responsibilities if you want to get better and overcome your addiction. You can trust our doctors to provide you with reliable and effective medicine, but being responsible is your part. Call Kolbe Clinic to learn more about the various treatments we have.

Ongoing Treatment Plans for the following:
- Alcohol abuse
- Opioid abuse
- Benzodiazepine abuse
- Other chemical dependencies

Patient Responsibilities

- Do not take other medications without the permission of a Kolbe Clinic physician
- Abstain from illicit drug use and alcohol use
- Good communication with your case manager and Kolbe Clinic staff is important
- Keep your medication in a safe place in your home (lock it up if necessary)
- Keep regularly scheduled appointments
- Invest yourself in your recovery with our counseling resources
- Notify all of your current and future providers of your history of substance abuse
- Selling or giving away medication is a crime - diversion of your medication will result in immediate dismissal from the program
- Take your medication as prescribed

Why Choose Kolbe Clinic?

Our experienced staff understands how addiction impacts patients and their loved ones, which is why we approach recovery with compassion. We see OUD as a health condition and offer a wide variety of medical support to our patients. To learn more about our program or enroll in treatment, give us a call at 1-888-310-9011 or get in touch via our website.