Medication Assisted Treatment – The Pros and Cons of MAT

Mental and behavioral health treatments are wide-ranging. Each has its pros and cons, and not every treatment works for everybody. So, finding the right treatment begins with knowing the options you have.

One of the most popular modes of treatment is medication-assisted treatment (MAT). It has gained recognition as an effective treatment modality, especially in light of the opioid crisis that is gripping the U.S. While MAT has made a significant difference in the field of mental and behavioral health, it needs strict supervision and may not be for everyone. Therefore, knowing the pros and cons of medication-assisted treatment can aid you in determining whether it can be the right fit for you going forward.

What is Medication-Based Treatment?

Let’s begin with what medication-assisted treatment, or MAT. MAT combines medication with psychotherapy to treat substance use disorders (SUDs). With MAT, the benefits are twofold - while medication reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms, therapy gets to the bottom of substance use and seeks to change the underlying patterns leading to substance use. It also aids in identifying triggers and developing productive coping strategies.

MAT has been able to significantly reduce the cases of overdose and relapse and lay the foundation for a lasting recovery. Hence, it has become a leading choice in the treatment of SUDs like alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder.

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What Type of Medications Are Used in MAT Programs?

While different medications are used in MAT-related programs, the most common ones are:

Methadone

Methadone is an opioid agonist. While it attaches to the same brain receptors as other opioids, it does not lead to the same highs that make opioids as addictive as they are. Even more so, methadone reduces opioid cravings by reducing their pleasant effects, thereby removing the desire to misuse opioids and other similar substances.

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It binds to the opioid receptors in the brain without producing the same highs as other opioids. It reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms and is typically used in cases of mild to moderate opioid use disorder.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, which means that it blocks the activation of opioid receptors. In doing so, it prevents opioids from producing a “high” and reduces cravings for the same. Moreover, Naltrexone can be given as a long-acting injectable, so its effects last for a few weeks.

Disulfiram

Disulfiram is used to prevent further alcohol use after a person has stopped drinking. Disulfiram targets and blocks a liver enzyme involved in breaking down alcohol byproducts. So, even if a person drinks small amounts of alcohol, it can lead to unpleasant and, sometimes, even severe symptoms. Therefore, it must only be taken under the strict supervision of your doctor/psychiatrist.

Each of these medications plays an important role in treating SUDs and is equally important in facilitating a wholesome recovery journey. These medications are available under several FDA-approved brand names. However, do keep in mind that these are prescription medications, so they must only be taken under the strict supervision of your doctor/psychiatrist.

What are the Pros and Cons of Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Medication-assisted treatment has been strongly endorsed by many established institutions like the National Institutes of Health as an effective treatment modality. However, like any other treatment approach, it comes with its pros and cons that you need to be aware of. Mental and behavioral health treatment thrives on informed decision-making, and you need to be an active participant in your own recovery.

In light of the above, the pros or benefits of MAT are as follows:

• Decreases substance use by targeting specific receptors in the brain to reduce cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms.
• By providing the twofold benefits of medication and therapy, it reduces the risks of overdose and relapse.
• Uses safe, FDA-approved medications for treatment. Furthermore, medication management goes beyond just prescribing medications. It prescribes, monitors, and adapts medication for a more personalized treatment.
• Has been effective in reducing drug-related overdose deaths.

MAT, while being effective, does have certain cons or potential drawbacks you need to be aware of:

• It involves strict supervision, which may not be comfortable for everyone.
• Medications do come with their side effects.
• Medications used do have a certain potential for misuse.

While MAT does have certain drawbacks, these drawbacks can be controlled by strictly adhering to treatment guidelines and slowly tapering off the medications under medically supervised conditions. In doing so, they reduce the potential for misuse and lay the foundation for a lasting recovery.

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Is Medication-Assisted Treatment the Right Approach for You?

After looking into the pros and cons of medication-assisted treatment, you can decide whether it fits into your recovery goals or not. However, for an expert answer, you can reach out to the NuView Treatment Center, and our expert team is always there for you to answer your questions.

Indeed, MAT has emerged as a leading treatment approach for substance use disorders, specifically alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder, but there are certain things to consider before beginning this treatment.

If you are confused as to whether MAT is the right option for you going forward, please do not hesitate to reach out to NuView at (323) 307-7997 or email us at info@nuviewtreatment.com.