Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Six different medications have been approved for use in MAT West Virginia: acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone, and naloxone. The choice of which to use depends on a variety of factors, including the substance you are detoxing from and what you need medication to help you with.

Alcohol use medications

Acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone are the most common drugs in use in medication assisted treatment West Virginia for alcohol abuse. They are not interchangeable – each one will produce different effects on the body and is, therefore, suitable at different stages of alcohol rehab WV. At Harmony Ridge, we use naltrexone; it is a medication with a broad application and comparatively low risk of side effects. We prescribe naltrexone after detox is complete to block the intoxicating effects of alcohol and suppress cravings. Naltrexone is not addictive and does not cause withdrawal. However, it does have some side effects, including headaches, nausea, fatigue, muscle pain, and sleep problems.

Drug dependency medications

The medications most commonly used to treat drug addiction are buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. Of the three, methadone is the only one that has a high risk of causing addiction. For this reason, it can only be dispensed by select clinics. Harmony Ridge does not rely on methadone; instead, we use buprenorphine and naltrexone in our:

• fentanyl detox treatment,
• heroin rehab centers,
• and opiate rehab center.

Medication assisted treatment in West Virginia can also be beneficial in the cases of other addictions. Depending on your condition, you may also receive buprenorphine or naltrexone in our:

• meth rehab center West Virginia,
• cocaine addiction rehab,
• Ambien rehab,
• barbiturates rehab,
• benzo rehab,
• marijuana rehab center, and
• stimulants addiction rehab center.

Naltrexone is used in the same way for both alcohol and drug addiction. Buprenorphine, on the other hand, you will receive in the early stages of withdrawal to diminish the symptoms of withdrawal, the risk of relapse, and the potential for deadly overdose. Possible side effects include fever, constipation, sleep issues, nausea, irritability, body aches, tremors, and heart palpitations.

Drug overdose prevention medication

If you or someone you know overdoses on opioids, it is vital to administer an opioid antagonist immediately. This will reverse the effects of the drug. You can use naloxone (generic name) or Narcan (brand name) – it is available over-the-counter in some form in all 50 states. Some addiction prevention and treatment organizations may also distribute naloxone for free. Keep in mind, however, that naloxone has very short-term effects. You will want to seek medication assisted treatment in West Virginia after the overdose to treat the addiction itself.

In addition to naloxone, methadone and naltrexone mitigate cravings and increase tolerance to the effects of opioids; therefore, they can also reduce the risk of overdose in the long run. It is important, however, to be aware of this higher tolerance to drugs after MAT. If you do relapse, using the same amount as you did prior to treatment may lead to an overdose. This is one of the risks of MAT that you should discuss during your evaluation at the beginning of rehab.

All addiction treatment, including MAT West Virginia, is highly individual. What substance you use, how long you use it for, whether you’ve gone through rehab before, other disorders you may suffer from, and how you respond to different medications and therapy all factor into how effective rehab is for you. Consequently, MAT can last anywhere between a few days and a lifetime. During this time, you might use the same medication constantly or you may switch between medications and dosages.

Medication is only one aspect of our holistic approach to addiction treatment. While it certainly can help you on your way to sobriety, it only treats the physical aspects of your addiction. The underlying causes and triggers that may drive you to substance will still be there after MAT West Virginia. This is why it is important not to treat medication as the be-all, end-all of rehab. Instead, you’ll want to also join a more long-term program. At Harmony Ridge, this may take the form of:

• inpatient drug rehab in WV where you stay at our facilities under 24/7 medical supervision
• partial hospitalization program West Virginia where you receive up to 30 hours of care a week while still living at home
• intensive outpatient program West Virginia where you attend three-hour meetings three times a week as you transition into a life without substances

Therapy during rehab

Regardless of how long you spend in MAT West Virginia, it will not be a replacement for addiction therapy WV. This is because therapy addresses a completely different aspect of addiction: it teaches you to recognize your triggers and to cope with them in constructive ways. By using medication to deal with the physical symptoms of addiction and therapy to deal with the mental and emotional sides of it, you can achieve long-term sobriety and avoid relapses.

Addiction aftercare

For most people, addiction is a long-term or even lifelong struggle. So it is important to prepare yourself for life after treatment. At Harmony Ridge, we have addiction aftercare programs where you will work with your case manager and therapist to develop a plan for your transition into a sober life. This plan may include placement in our facilities, participation in therapy, following a 12-step program, and more. The goal is for you to continue to receive the support you need even after you’ve completed your rehab.

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding the use of medication in addiction treatment. If you are considering MAT West Virginia, make sure you are using reliable sources to inform yourself. Many studies have been done into the effectiveness and safety of medication assisted treatment.

The benefits and effectiveness of MAT

Opponents of MAT often say that it simply replaces addiction to one type of opioid with addiction to a different type of opioid. There is, however, a difference. Namely, the opioids used in MAT are safe whereas the opioids whose effects they treat are potentially deadly. Furthermore, most MAT medications are not actually addictive so even if you do have to use MAT medication for a long time, you won’t develop an addiction.

Medication assisted treatment is, therefore, not a new addiction but rather a clinically proven way to effectively treat addiction. Studies have found that MAT reduced the occurrence of relapses and overdoses by a statistically significant amount. Some of the reported benefits include:

• improving the long-term odds of survival
• improving the odds of survival in cases of relapse and overdose
• increasing retention in treatment
• decreasing the odds of relapse
• making treatment less physically taxing
• decreasing criminal activity among addicts
• decreasing the odds of bloodborne infections like HIV and hepatitis
• better birth outcomes in pregnant women with SUD

Despite these overall positive results, MAT effectiveness in individuals will vary.

MAT medications and child safety

If you are (or are about to become) a parent, you’ll want to make sure that your medication assisted treatment in West Virginia is also safe for your children. The good news is that under the guidance of medical professionals, the use of MAT medications is safe for pregnant people, children, and teens. Furthermore, parents with substance use disorder who go through MAT are more likely to keep or regain custody of their children.

However, MAT medication can be toxic for children and teens, producing serious side effects and even causing an overdose when used improperly. If you keep MAT medication in your home, make sure you keep it out of reach of your children; if you are a parent of a child or a teen with a substance use disorder, supervise their medication intake. This is especially important for users of methadone. Not only is methadone a potent and addictive drug, but the addition of coloring to injectible methadone can make it look appealing to young children.

Medication assisted treatment in West Virginia is a form of addiction treatment. Addiction treatment, like all treatment for mental illnesses, is itself a form of healthcare. Any health insurance that covers mental illness must, therefore, also cover addiction treatment (including MAT). The extent of the coverage will, however, vary from policy to policy.

At Harmony Ridge, you can pay for your medication assisted treatment with most major insurance plans. Among others, we accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Tricare, Aetna, and more. We are also one of the few rehab centers that accept Medicaid. You can also pay in part or in full out of your own pocket.

1. What is medication assisted treatment (MAT)?

Medication assisted treatment or MAT refers to the use of approved medications to alleviate the symptoms of drug and alcohol withdrawal during rehab. It is commonly a treatment for addiction to opioids, but has also be effective in treating other substance use.

2. How does medication assisted treatment work?

Medication assisted treatment diminishes the most serious symptoms of withdrawal. This makes it easier for a person to resist the physical urge to use opioids in the early stages of rehab.

3. When is MAT beneficial?

Medications are typically prescribed in the cases of serious opioid addiction when withdrawal may be dangerous as well as unpleasant. You may need to test out different medications and dosages to find the right treatment.

4. Is MAT dangerous?

Like all drugs, MAT medications have side effects (similar to the side effects of opioids). When administered by a professional, medication assisted treatment carries an overall low risk.

5. Can I become addicted to MAT medications?

Most medications used in MAT are do not produce the same euphoric effects as the substances they treat; therefore, they are not addictive. The only major exception is methadone.

6. Will MAT make me sober?

Medication assisted treatment primarily targets physical symptoms of withdrawal. It will help you achieve and maintain sobriety, but it is not a replacement for rehab and therapy. The mental and emotional aspects of addiction will still be present during and after MAT. For this reason, MAT is usually only the first step in your recovery. A holistic approach that includes addiction therapy and treatment for potential co-occurring disorders is necessary for long-term success.