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Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
People addicted to drugs will need treatment services for their addiction. For those that are addicted to opioids, alcohol, or tobacco, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) may be necessary, along with counseling. MAT simply means that medications are being used as part of addiction treatment. Sometimes people get confused about how a medication can help for people that are already addicted to other medications, but there is a way these MAT medications can help the brain chemistry fight the other addiction.
There are three types of medications used in MAT specific to opioid use disorders. Other medications are used to treat alcohol and tobacco related use disorders.
The medications used to help with opioid use disorder treatment are:
- methadone,
- buprenorphine, and
- naltrexone.
Methadone is taken at specially licensed clinics. Buprenorphine can be provided by specially authorized prescribers who have taken special training for this, such as primary care provider. Naltrexone, a prevention treatment, can be taken as an injection and the effects last 30 days, and can be prescribed by any health professional licensed to prescribe medications.