When it comes to substance use disorders, many approaches can help. At our Rehab center, we provide medication-assisted treatment, also known as MAT in Los Angeles, California, to help those who need it. This method uses a combination of therapy and FDA-approved medications to help people become sober.
Then, continued usage of this approach can help a person enjoy long-term sobriety. When someone is ready to leave their addiction behind them, medication-assisted treatment can be the answer they need.
What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
Many clinicians use medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help people with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. MAT rehab in Los Angeles involves a 2-pronged approach to treatment. First, medications can help stop cravings for substances. In addition, they can aid in reducing or eliminating some of the withdrawal symptoms that occur in early recovery. Medical professionals monitor the effects the meds have and make any necessary adjustments.
Second, people using MAT also receive therapy. This teaches them how to deal with triggers and cravings that may lead to relapse. The therapy helps people on both an emotional and cognitive level. In short, medication-assisted treatment in Los Angeles helps people avoid relapse while they build strong recoveries, and teaches them about what led to their addiction.
How Does Medication-Assisted Treatment Work?
For many, going through detox and early recovery without using medication is possible. For many others, it’s simply not the right approach. MAT begins with an assessment of each person to see if they are a good candidate for it.
All medications are FDA-approved. Then, if they are approved, the right medication is selected. Medical professionals supervise their use. Medications can be quite helpful. That being said, combining them with therapy doubles down on providing effective treatment for addiction.
Psychotherapy sessions take place at the same time. Medications don’t have to consist solely of those that address physical ailments. In addition, they can help with emotional and psychological reactions commonly felt during detox and early recovery. These include depression, anxiety, and moodiness. MAT typically begins during detox and can extend into residential or outpatient rehab treatment; however, some people continue to use it during aftercare.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Going through detox can prove physically and emotionally difficult for many people. With this in mind, MAT helps keep a person from suffering needlessly. As a result, they are more likely to stay sober.
Some of the benefits of using medication-assisted treatment include:
- Increases length of time in treatment
- Improves the survival of patients
- Reduces or stops cravings for alcohol and certain drugs
- Reduces or prevents some withdrawal symptoms
- Provides the outlet of talking to a therapist about emotional challenges
- Enhances the outcomes of birth among pregnant women with substance use disorders
- Increases the ability of patients to get and keep jobs
- Reduces the illegal use of opiates and criminal activities among people addicted to them
Protocol for Medication-Assisted Treatment in Los Angeles, CA
The type of substance someone abused, the severity of the addiction, and the presence of any co-occurring mental health disorders are 3 things that must be determined to assess each patient accurately. Once staff has evaluated all of these factors, the treatment center will determine whether the patient requires medication-assisted treatment.
Those who need MAT to recover will be placed in a unit with a higher level of attention and care. There will not be a minimum or maximum amount of time that this form of treatment takes. Each patient is different, so each case will differ. The need for any medication-assisted treatment will be monitored to ensure the patient is receiving help and not hurting themselves. Studies have shown that those who participate in MAT can have significantly higher rates of success long-term without relapse.
Ideal candidates for medication-assisted treatment include the following:
- Have been diagnosed with opioid addiction
- No physical issues the medication could worsen
- Learned all treatment possibilities
- Agrees to follow strict guidelines of medicated-assisted treatment
Medication-assisted treatment might not be best for the following:
- Unmotivated to achieve sobriety
- Suffers from multiple substance addictions simultaneously
- History of medication abuse
- Health conditions like liver failure and heart disease
