What is Medication Assisted Treatment?

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) integrates FDA-approved medications, counseling and behavioral therapies in providing a “whole-patient” approach and sustainable treatment to substance use disorders. Tackling a combination of the biological and behavioral component of addiction effectively assists the patient in overcoming cravings and uncomfortable physical symptoms associated with withdrawals. MAT has proven to be clinically effective in improving patient survival rate, patient’s ability to live a self-directed life, and their dependency on substances.

Opioid addiction is extremely prevalent in the United States and is extremely powerful because individuals seek out to drugs like heroin and opioid painkillers to feel normal and to mitigate physical withdrawal symptoms from drug detoxes. This addiction and malicious cycle can be combated by medications like methadone and buprenorphine. As opioids themselves, these medications satisfy an individual’s craving and stop the withdrawal symptoms. Although it is counterintuitive to treat opioid addiction with opioid, the treatment is proven to be successful under a safe medical setting, where the prescribed amount doesn’t produce euphoric high and simultaneously helps mitigate withdrawal symptoms. As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, medications like methadone and buprenorphine are not heroin or opioid substitutes, but instead they are used as maintenance treatment. When these medications are used under physician’s close supervision and following prescription amounts, they will not create a new addiction. Thus, by easing the physical withdrawal symptoms, a patient’s risk of relapse reduces and sobriety sustains.

Research Supporting Medication Assisted Treatment

Various studies and systematic reviews of the research have indicated that medically assisted treatment successfully reduces the risk of opioid addiction and cuts the all-cause mortality rate by half or more. Specific to Baltimore, research found that the opioid overdose rate has decreased after the introduction of MAT in the region.

Moreover, studies have demonstrated that MAT significantly reduces the risk of opioid addiction and poisoning in comparison to solely relying on psychological support. With reduced risk, MAT further helps patients in both retentions in treatment and increase in social functioning, assisting them in taking back control of their lives and living a self-directed life.

For society as a whole, not only does medically assisted treatment reduce the risk of opioid usage and overdose death rate, but the National Institute on Drug Abuse also indicated that MAT decreases self-harm activity and infectious disease transmission. This demonstrates the effectiveness of medically assisted treatment not just on the patient him or herself, but also on the greater society.

With successful clinical results, many private organizations, agencies, and other groups are supporting and offering medication assisted treatment. Recognizing the widespread and effectiveness of medically assisted treatment, the United States government has passed the SUPPORT Act (Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery Treatment for Patients and Communities Act) to regulate MAT and provide medical practitioners with greater flexibility in offering medically assisted treatments. The government has also provided many resources for clinics to practice MAT safely and to support their patients throughout the journey.

Types of Medications in Medically Assisted Treatment

Here are some medications commonly used in MAT.

Methadone has been used to treat patients addicted to heroin and narcotic pain medicines for decades. It lessens physical withdrawal symptoms by changing how the brain and nervous system responds to pain. With a safely prescribed amount, it blocks the euphoric effects that causes addiction, allowing patients to gradually ease off their dependency on drugs. Methadone is self-administered, taken once a day in the form of pill, liquid and water.

Different from Methadone, Buprenorphine must be performed in a highly structured clinic under closer supervision of physicians. Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist as it produces the same euphoric effect and respiratory depression as opioids. Its effects increase with each dose until a certain point, where more doses won’t increase the effect anymore. This “ceiling effect” lowers the risk of misuse, dependency and side effects.

Naltrexone blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of drugs by activating opioid receptors in the body that suppress cravings. It comes in a pill form or as an injectable and can be prescribed by licensed health care providers. Nonetheless, patients must abstain from illegal opioids and opioid medication for a minimum of 7-10 days before starting naltrexone for the medication to be effective.

Each of these FDA-approved medications has its own benefits and risks and can work differently on different patients. It is essential for patients to work closely with physicians in determining the most fitting medication. More importantly, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explicitly notes that no matter what medication is used, the medication has to be in combination with counseling and behavioral therapy for it to be holistic and effective

Insurance and Payment for Medically Assisted Treatment

In response to the rising drug overdose rate in the United States, the government has passed down several acts to improve the stigma on addiction and to promote addiction treatment. The Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires most health insurers to treat behavioral health services as they do for primary care, providing coverage for addiction treatment as part of the insurance plan benefit. Since the cost of medically assisted treatment varies depending on the types of medications used, the types of medication an insurance plan cover may differ. On top of this, there may be limitations to the number of dosages and prescription refills. Thus, patients should communicate with their insurance provider to determine how much of the addiction treatment is covered.

Medication Assisted Treatment in Tennessee

Resurgence Tennessee is the leading provider of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for addiction in Tennessee. Resurgence truly believes the right treatment program is the key for anyone to address and overcome their addiction. Resurgence offers a variety of 1-on-1, customizable programs to help each patient find and learn their way of dealing with everyday problems without the use of substances.

Take Back Control of Your Life with Resurgence Tennessee

Resurgence Tennessee is the leading medically assisted treatment provider for Tennessee, specifically serving Fayetteville, Chattanooga, and surrounding areas.

Resurgence offers customizable treatment plans and comprehensive care for various types of addictions, including:

Our Medically Assisted Treatment usually involves the following:

Methadone

Methadone has been used to treat patients addicted to heroin and narcotic pain medicines for decades. It lessens physical withdrawal symptoms by changing how the brain and nervous system responds to pain. With a safely prescribed amount, it blocks the euphoric effects that causes addiction, allowing patients to gradually ease off their dependency on drugs. Methadone is self-administered, taken once a day in the form of pill, liquid and water.

Buprenorphine

Different from Methadone, Buprenorphine must be performed in a highly structured clinic under closer supervision of physicians. Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist as it produces the same euphoric effect and respiratory depression as opioids. Its effects increase with each dose until a certain point, where more doses won’t increase the effect anymore. This “ceiling effect” lowers the risk of misuse, dependency and side effects.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of drugs by activating opioid receptors in the body that suppress cravings. It comes in a pill form or as an injectable and can be prescribed by licensed health care providers. Nonetheless, patients must abstain from illegal opioids and opioid medication for a minimum of 7-10 days before starting naltrexone for the medication to be effective.

Subutex

Subutex has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use within medication-assisted treatment programs. It is an excellent medication option for opioid addiction. Subutex is usually prescribed to individuals at the start of treatment, with the goal of eventually transitioning to Suboxone for long-term maintenance. Like methadone, Subutex blocks opioid cravings as well as physical withdrawal symptoms with little to no risk.

Suboxone

Comprised of buprenorphine and naloxone, Suboxone is approved by the FDA as a medication for people who have an opioid addiction. Suboxone also alleviates cravings and physical withdrawal symptoms that usually occurs in the detox process. This medication is also often used as a long-term medication option after an individual begins treatment with Subutex.

Vivitrol

Vivitrol is an injectable medication approved by the FDA for use in programs that treat opioid addiction. It is a naltrexone-based medication that counters opioid cravings, alleviates physical symptoms of withdrawal and prevents overdose from occurring. Vivitrol is administered only once a month. It has a proven track record of preventing individuals in recovery from experiencing relapse.

One-on-One Therapy

While group therapy may bring important issues to light, one-on-one therapy allows our clients to explore further and come to terms with the underlying conditions that causes their addiction. One-on-one therapy is an extremely effective treatment where you or your loved one can explore very personal issues with the guidance and support of your own therapist.

Group Therapy and Programs

We believe that no single treatment model is appropriate for everyone that is why we develop an individualized program for every one of our clients. This customized program includes some of the group therapy and programs that will best address the client’s addiction history.

Here are some of the group therapy and programs that we offer:

To treat these addictions and disorders, Resurgence Tennessee offers three primary treatment services: detox, inpatient care and outpatient treatment.