Medication-Assisted Treatment
in Spring Branch
Early on, there were many opposed to the idea of providing medications to a person struggling with addiction because they figured it was trading one addiction for another. However, now with decades of proof showing the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the thoughts have shifted to “How do we make this more accessible?”
At Ripple Ranch Recovery Center, we believe providing a well-rounded MAT program to some of our clients is a must. Contact us if you are searching for medication-assisted treatment in Spring Branch, TX.
What is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?
Medication-assisted treatment is the use of specific medications combined with counseling to treat opioid use disorder.
MAT has been proven to be effective in helping people manage withdrawal symptoms from drugs like heroin.
As a whole, MAT is still new and growing as a form of treatment for substance use disorders. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to approve MAT drugs that will benefit people for years to come.
The most commonly used medications in MAT are buprenorphine, naltrexone, and naloxone.
What Medications Are Included in MAT?
Brand name buprenorphine medications include:
- Suboxone (combined with naloxone)
- Subutex
- Butrans
- Sublocade
- Belbuca
Brand name naltrexone medications include:
- Vivitrol
- ReVia
- Depade
- Contrave (combined with bupropion)
Brand name naloxone mediations include:
- Suboxone (combined with buprenorphine)
- Narcan
- Evzio
- Kloxxado
How Do Medication-Assisted Treatment Drugs Work?
There are multiple FDA-approved MAT medications, and they feature differing effects.
Buprenorphine dampens the effects of opioid withdrawal symptoms. It also reduces the craving to use opioids. It does this by acting as a partial opioid agonist. This means the drug works like an opioid (e.g., fentanyl) but with lesser effects.
Buprenorphine has been proven effective in treating those with opioid use disorder, regardless of the exact substance. It has helped those with addictions to painkillers like Vicodin and those addicted to heroin.
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it cancels out the effects of opioids.
This means if you were to take naltrexone and then take an opioid painkiller or drink alcohol, you would not experience the high related to the drugs.
Naloxone, similar to Naltrexone, cancels out the effects of opioids.
Buprenorphine and naloxone are often combined for a fuller effect, most notably in the brand name drug Suboxone.
Do the MAT medications cure me?
Medication alone is likely not enough to overcome opioid use disorder. Maintaining recovery in the long term will require the help of therapists and others with similar experiences to discuss your journey with.
To reach long term recovery, successful MAT programming must include the following:
- Medication
- Evidence-based behavioral therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Education
- Life-skills training
Without therapy and the other components listed above, it will be incredibly difficult to reach long term recovery. Regardless, the drugs used in MAT are effective in stopping the symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
Do I Qualify for MAT?
Upon entering treatment, a client will receive an intake evaluation from a mental health professional.
This evaluation will help determine if MAT is the correct path for you.
The goals of the evaluation are to adequately diagnose a substance use disorder, determine the severity of the addiction the client is facing, and assess for the possibility of a co-occurring mental health disorder.
Once this is complete, the professional will determine if a client is a good candidate for the MAT program.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a person is a suitable candidate for MAT if they:
- Have received a diagnosis of opioid or alcohol addiction
- Have a willingness to follow all provided instructions
- Have no physical health problems that would be aggravated by the medications prescribed
- Have been educated on other forms of treatment
At the same time, SAMHSA states that a person can be a poor candidate because of any of the following:
- A history of medication misuse
- Addiction to a substance that cannot be treated with medications
- A severe physical limitation such as heart or lung disease
- Lack of commitment to a program
Regardless of the lists above, it’s important to reach out if you think MAT could benefit you. A medical professional will be able to properly address these things with you.
Does Insurance Cover MAT?
All insurance companies are different, so this is hard to answer. At Ripple Ranch Recovery, we work with and are in-network with, Christus Health Plan, Cigna, Magellan Health, BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, and First Health Network. If you do not see your insurance company listed, contact us to discuss further options.
Contact Us Today to Get Started
Our team is standing by to teach you more about what we offer and help you figure out a care plan that will be most effective for you and your unique situation.
