In situations where a drug and alcohol use disorder has wreaked havoc on an individual's life, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recommends that, in most cases, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs are the best option. It includes treatment methods where addiction specialists can rely on different medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies to achieve goals and become sober.
These evidence-based treatment programs are endorsed by nearly every healthcare professional because of the positive results that are consistently shown. Effective strategies are implemented to help patients manage side-effects and withdrawal symptoms and strengthen their mental and behavioral health state. Ultimately, when the use of medication and therapy is used correctly, patients are much more likely to sustain their recovery.
Certified addiction treatment facilities like Shoreline Recovery in San Diego, who offer recovery options, provide all their services under licensed medical professionals’ supervision. Among the many benefits that these programs are proven to contribute to include directly:
Survival rates are significantly increased while relapse rates are decreased
Increase retention during rehab when treating opioid addiction
The abilities to maintain a healthy lifestyle and steady employment
Patients are less likely found to be participating in criminal activities
Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
Probabilities of falling into old habits related to substance use disorder are reduced
MAT programs come highly recommended by industry professionals because many of the various side-effects and symptoms caused by opioid use disorder can potentially be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening in many cases.
When searching for locations that offer proper MAT programs, a little difficulty is often experienced because of the heavy regulations that are involved in this method of treatment. These life-saving addiction recovery programs are generally only offered at treatment facilities that have received and are current on all the proper certifications. The experts at Shoreline Recovery in San Diego are readily available to address any concerns and answer any questions you may have.
The three types of medications most frequently used by doctors during the medication-assisted treatment process are buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.
Even though these medications are FDA approved, they also come with a few concerns and controversies. One of them is that it is often perceived as dangerous or careless to use substances that can be addictive enough to develop new abusive habits. However, countless patients have successfully overcome their opioid addiction through the use of these medications and have continued the treatments safely for months and even years.
Suboxone and Subutex are both brand names of buprenorphine medications and have been used for treating patients struggling with opioid use disorders since it was FDA-approved in 2002. Buprenorphine is regarded as a partial opioid antagonist, which is unique in having abilities similar to prescription painkillers that connect with the opioid receptors to reduce pain.
Even though this medication creates comparable effects to those caused by other opioids, it does not produce the desired state of euphoria, which is arguably the exact reason addictions are often developed. This drug can be a very positive and helpful resource when it is prescribed and used correctly.
This medication is more commonly used with individuals who are suffering from the long-term effects of the more potent forms of illicit opioid drugs such as heroin. Although methadone was approved as a pain-relieving medication in 1947, it was not until 1971 where methadone began being effectively used by adults to treat opioid use disorders and heroin addictions.
When used as directed by your licensed healthcare provider, methadone has been a successful resource for many people. This is because of the vital role that it plays in helping the individual recover from their addiction and then maintaining their healthy and sober lifestyle.
Naltrexone, being the generic form of the brand-name drug Vivitrol, is the medication often requested by patients because it is not considered being a controlled substance. Naltrexone is viewed as an opiate antagonist, meaning that it works by blocking the addictive effects of opioids. In addition to being a key contributor to reducing a patient’s intense opioid cravings, it has also been a proven method of helping decrease relapse risks when recovering from a moderate to severe opioid use disorder or alcohol.
