Medication Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is a treatment method that helps to ease withdrawals and cravings in a monitored environment – with the use of medication. This is not the practice of substituting one drug for another. When taken correctly, they’re safer than opioids and they can reduce your risk of relapse.

At Behavioral Health Services Pickens, MAT is a program that takes the whole person into consideration. We don’t just prescribe you medication. We educate you on what you’re taking and we walk you through each step. You’ll also be working with a therapist to get through this difficult time. We want to help you with a successful transition into a fulfilling recovery. 

What Medications Are Used in MAT?

Every facility runs a little differently. At BHS, our MAT program uses one of four medications. We’re comfortable with these because they’re science-backed and proven to be helpful in handling withdrawals and preventing relapse. Here are the four types of medications used in our MAT program:

Vivitrol (Naltrexone) 

What is it? Vivitrol is an injection that we give you once a month. It’s administered after 7-10 days of sobriety.  It dulls those “feel good” effects that opioids or alcohol give you. 

How does it help? When you strip away the feelings of euphoria or calm, opioids and alcohol are useless. Patients are less likely to use drugs if they can’t get the feelings they normally get from them. Vivitrol eliminates those feelings in order to cut down on temptation. 

Are there risks if I mix Vivitrol with opioids or alcohol? Yes. Because Vivitrol blocks those “feel good” effects, some people may try to combat its effects by drinking more alcohol or increasing their opioid dosage. This makes it easy to overdose on opioids or alcohol while taking Vivitrol. 

Suboxone (Buprenorphine) 

What is it? Suboxone comes in a sublingual pill or film. It’s a blend of Buprenorphine and Naloxone. It works by reducing the urge to return to your drug of choice. It also blocks those “feel good” effects, similar to Vivitrol. It’s usually prescribed to people who are dependent on short-acting opioids. 

How does it help? Suboxone works to reduce or even eliminate withdrawal symptoms, which can be pretty nasty. People who experience rough withdrawals are at risk for relapse. Suboxone decreases that risk. It’s an alternative to Methadone, which is another drug commonly known for helping with withdrawals. We usually start patients on one dose for their initial withdrawals and decrease the dose over time. 

Are there risks if I mix Suboxone with opioids or alcohol? Yes. Alcohol, opioids, and Suboxone are all depressants. When you use them together, you’re putting your body at risk for not-so-fun things like respiratory suppression and decreased blood flow. It’s never a good idea to take Suboxone in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs.

Subutex

What is it? Subutex is a form of Buprenorphine. It’s a sublingual tablet that’s used to lessen withdrawal symptoms. When prescribed and taken responsibly, it’s less habit-forming than opioids. Subutex doesn’t block the effects of opioids like Suboxone or Vivitrol, but it diminishes the effects of physical dependency (dulls withdrawal symptoms). 

How does it help? Subutex can help with your sleep, your appetite, and your mental clarity when you’re first coming off of opioids. It lessens withdrawal symptoms like nausea, insomnia, brain fog, and more. 

Are there risks if I mix Subutex with opioids or alcohol? Yes. Mixing Subutex with opioids and alcohol doesn’t bode well for your central nervous system. It can create breathing problems, blood flow problems, and more. It’s important that you’re monitored by a doctor and committed to the cessation of other opioids or alcohol if you take this drug.

Sublocade

What is it? Sublocade is also a form of Buprenorphine, similar to Subutex, but it’s a once-monthly extended-release injection. 

How does it help? Sublocade helps by curbing the cravings for opioids while lessening withdrawal symptoms. It can help by managing urges and preventing relapse. 

Are there risks to mixing Sublocade with opioids or alcohol? Yes. Just like all forms of Buprenorphine, it’s unsafe to take Sublocade with any other depressants. 

Breaking the Stigma of MAT 

Stigma surrounding MAT isn’t new. It’s something that’s been going on for decades. Some people believe that by participating in MAT, addicts are just substituting one drug of choice for another. It’s a popular belief that the drugs prescribed in MAT are enabling those struggling with addiction. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The four medications discussed, Vivitrol, Suboxone, Subutex, and Sublocade are all in a category called “opioid agonists” or “partial opioid agonists.” They’re less likely to cause respiratory suppression and dependence. They also have something called a “ceiling effect.” This means that after a certain dosage, they no longer produce any kind of pleasant feelings like euphoria or calm. This makes the potential for misuse smaller than that of opioids or alcohol. When taken properly, opioid agonists and partial agonists are safe, effective, and they promote healing.

Quitting unhealthy coping mechanisms like drinking or drugs is often painful. There’s no way around that. It isn’t just withdrawals. Letting go of these habits is hard on the mind. It can be isolating to quit alcohol or other drugs, especially if your social or family group isn’t supportive. There is no shame in getting help while you go through this. We want you to know you’re not alone in your recovery. 

MAT has been invaluable when it comes to helping people safely get sober or come off of harmful drugs. Throughout the years, this treatment has saved countless lives. The medications we’ve discussed have become common practice for treating opioid use disorder. At any given point, 1,500 South Carolinians are using Buprenoprhine daily in MAT. When patients participate in MAT, their chances of relapse and overdose are also decreased. 

This isn’t just a doctor prescribing more drugs to people who are already struggling with addiction. This is a treatment program that takes your physical and mental needs into consideration. We do frequent check-ins because we don’t want you to feel alone in this process. We work with you in therapy because we know it’s going to make you stronger and guide you into a successful recovery.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Medication-Assisted Treatment