Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment, explained.

Medication is one of the most effective tools in addiction treatment today, especially for opioids and alcohol. Here is a plain guide to how it works, the options, and how it fits with counseling.

What it is

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), also called medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) or medications for addiction treatment, uses FDA-approved medicines alongside counseling and support to treat addiction to opioids or alcohol.

These medicines ease withdrawal and cravings and help prevent relapse. For opioid addiction, they also lower the risk of overdose. Taken as prescribed, they let people think clearly, work and take care of their families.

Common medications

These are some of the medications used today, not a complete list. A licensed prescriber decides with you which one, if any, fits.

Buprenorphine

For opioid addiction. A daily film or tablet (Suboxone and others) or a monthly injection (Sublocade). Can be prescribed in an office or by video.

Naltrexone

For opioid or alcohol addiction. A daily pill, or long-acting naltrexone as a monthly injection (Vivitrol). It is not an opioid. For opioids, it starts after withdrawal is complete.

Methadone

For opioid addiction. Given only at licensed opioid treatment programs, usually with daily visits at first.

Acamprosate

For alcohol addiction. Helps reduce cravings after someone has stopped drinking.

Disulfiram

For alcohol addiction. Causes a strong reaction if you drink, which some people use as a firm line.

Comfort medications

Short-term medicines, such as clonidine, that ease withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, sweating and trouble sleeping.

Medication and counseling, together

Medication treats the body. Counseling and therapy help with the rest: the reasons behind the use, the habits and people around it, and rebuilding work, family and daily life.

Used together, each makes the other work better. That’s why our program will pair medication with therapy and peer support, rather than offering a prescription alone.

Questions people ask

Isn’t it trading one drug for another?

No. Taken as prescribed, these medicines don’t produce a high in someone who is stable on them. They steady the brain so a person can function and do the work of recovery. They are recommended in national treatment guidelines.

How long do people stay on it?

There’s no set end date. Some people use it for months, others for years. You decide with your prescriber, and stopping is planned, never sudden.

Can I get it by video?

Buprenorphine can be prescribed by video in many cases. Telehealth visits may be available, depending on where you live and how you pay, whether through insurance or self-pay.

What if I don’t want medication?

That’s your choice. Many people do well with counseling and peer support alone. Some prefer a non-opioid detox followed by naltrexone.

Will Akari Pathways offer it?

Yes. Our licensed prescriber offers medication-assisted treatment alongside therapy, including buprenorphine and long-acting naltrexone. Methadone is only available at licensed opioid treatment programs, and we can help connect you.

Contact us

For referrals, partnerships, or help for yourself or someone you love:

[email protected]
(314) 325-0126

We respond within 24 hours.