Medication Assisted Treatment
A WHOLE-PATIENT APPROACH TO TREATMENT, RECOVERY, AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT
Medication-assisted treatment is primarily used for opioid addiction (heroin and prescription pain relievers), but can also be used for alcohol use disorders, and overdose prevention.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) MAT has been shown to:
Improve patient survival
Increase retention in treatment
Decrease illicit opiate use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders
Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
Improve birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders and are pregnant
Wondering if MAT is a good option for you or a loved one?
BENEFITS OF MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT
MAT works by helping reduce withdrawal symptoms for clients coming off of opioids, reduce cravings, and block euphoric effects of substances. Additionally, MAT helps increase protective factors such as employment and healthy relationships – increasing an individual’s chance of long-term recovery.
REDUCES WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
DECREASES CRAVINGS AND RISK OF RELAPSE
BLOCKS EUPHORIC EFFECTS
INCREASES PROTECTIVE FACTORS
HOW MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT IS IMPLEMENTED
At the Ohana medication-assisted treatment is used on a case-by-case basis and is custom tailored to the client’s needs. It is important to note that we view MAT is an “assist” to the patient’s overall care – meaning it is only a part of their treatment plan and will be used in conjunction with other therapies.
To begin we first must decide if MAT is good for for the client. One of our licensed providers will complete a comprehensive evaluation to determine if the client is a good candidate for the treatment. If the client is a candidate, we then determine which medication best suits their needs. From there, we establish a therapeutic dose that is administered under our care.
Throughout their treatment, each client is monitored to ensure that they are receiving the appropriate level of medication. When it is determined that a client is ready (or wanting to) come off of MAT, they are safely weaned off of the medication with medical oversight.
