Medication-Assisted Treatment for Men
The Mental Health Services Administration research on addiction medicine estimates that around 21 million Americans deal with at least one addiction, whether it be substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder. However, only around 10% of those people receive treatment at licensed treatment facilities. If you’ve felt alone in your struggle with addiction, it is never too late to receive quality addiction disorder treatment.
Men who are struggling with addiction from substances such as opioids, alcohol, or heroin, find it very difficult to stay in recovery when transitioning out of treatment programs. Addiction creates a deep physical dependency that often makes the chances of relapse extremely high and even more so if someone had a long history of dependence.
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What Is Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)?
Frequently used in detox centers and opioid treatment programs, medication-assisted treatment can be used to successfully treat addiction, and prevent Medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders increase patients ability to effectively cope with withdrawal symptoms, by allowing the body to recover and the mind to begin to process treatment.
This style of treatment often involves a daily dosage of an approved MAT medication, such as Sublocade and Vivitrol. Often this type of treatment is used to treat opioid dependence or opioid use disorder, as well as help with addictions to prescription pain relievers and other common medications with opioid-like effects.
The Benefits of MAT for Substance Use Disorders
There are many benefits to receiving sublingual, pill-form, or long-acting injection MAT medications. This treatment approach works to address the whole patient, and is often an necessary step in living a sober and self directed life. Research shows that this treatment options is a key first step to reduce cravings and assist in treatment program transitions.
Benefits to Sublocade & Vivitrol
- Keeps a steady, even flow of medication in your system: Often these drugs are given as pills, sublingually, or as a long acting injection, which keeps the medication releasing slowly over an extended period of time rather than rapidly.
- Operates to normalize brain chemistry: The prescribed medication operates to normalize body functions and restore brain chemistry that may have been disrupted by psychological cravings and chemical imbalances.
- Blocks the euphoric effects: These drugs often work in the brain similar to an opioid antagonist, blocking out the euphoric effects given to users.
- Relieve physiological cravings: These medications can work to relieve the physiological cravings, which often continue the cycle of the abused drug addiction.
- Likelihood of Abuse: Most importantly, common misconceptions are that MAT drugs can be misused and abused. However, neither medication can be misused. Your prescribed medication is closely monitored by healthcare providers, and does not create the same cycle of dependency or other associated negative effects.
MAT Substance Abuse Treatment with Next Step Recovery
Even though we are not a MAT supplier or provider, and we are not a detox facility, we support the use of Sublocade & Vivitrol medication-assisted treatments (MAT).
Evidence shows that a combination of MAT with behavioral therapies such as IOP can treat substance use disorders successfully and help sustain recovery. Additionally, MAT is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a safe treatment plan for substance abuse and substance use disorders.
MAT support programs like ours are tailored to meet individual needs, therefore, we recommend medication-assisted treatment programs for men who are at high risk of relapse when transitioning treatment programs.
Reviewed By Susan Stader MS, LCMH, LCAS, CCS
Susan Stader is the founder and director of Next Step Recovery and NSR of Asheville, an Intensive Outpatient Program and a Long-term Extended Care program in Asheville, NC. She received her Master’s in Community Counseling in 2004 at Western Carolina University and went on to get her licensure in addictions and mental health counseling. Susan believes that treatment should be gender-specific and offered in a small setting. Small recovery communities, such as hers, are more intimate and more effective in overall client satisfaction and care.
Reach Out Today
Recovery is a lifelong journey, but you don’t need to take it alone. At Next Step Recovery, we give you the tools and support you need to get through early sobriety and find lasting healing. It is our goal to empower our patients to be their best selves and live the life they deserve.
If you have any questions about our programs, methods, insurance, or anything else, reach out to us today. We look forward to helping you to get started along the road to recovery!
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