Opioids and alcohol are two of the most prevalent addictions in the United States today and have an almost uniform status across each state. Massachusetts is no different, with an estimated 6-7% of people over 12 suffering from AUD—nearly 300,000 people1. Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is a highly effective means of reducing some of the most physically and mentally demanding points of recovery. By combining certain medications with counseling and behavioral therapy, MAT can be an effective tool to have in your arsenal of coping and management skills.
For those seeking medication-assisted treatment in Lowell, MA, Clear Steps Recovery is here to help. Our compassionate staff has years of experience in applying MAT in comprehensive treatment. Call us today at 603.769.8981 or reach us online to learn how you can qualify for MAT or about our Lowell, Massachusetts, medication-assisted treatment program.
What Is Medication-Assisted Therapy?
Medication-assisted therapy is a treatment approach that combines the use of certain cleared medications with behavioral therapy to help individuals manage their addiction. Currently, MAT has various uses in treating alcohol and opioid use disorders. The medications used for MAT attempt to reduce symptoms of withdrawal and cravings. They do so in different ways, either by making the substance physically repulsive or by neutering its ability to excite the reward centers of the brain. Some of the common medications used for MAT include:
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Naltrexone
- Acamprosate
- Disulfiram
While it might seem counterintuitive to substitute reliance on one medication for another, the objective of MAT meds is to reduce their own cause for use as quickly and safely as possible. Medications used for MAT are not just non-addictive; they are addiction antagonists, meaning they make addictive substances ineffectual or even unpleasant. MAT medications are restricted to prescriptions given by a healthcare professional as part of comprehensive treatment.
Why Choose MAT in Massachusetts?
MAT is an extremely helpful tool for reducing the most unpleasant or alluring aspects of substance abuse. Its only major drawback is, besides its limitations to just alcohol and opioid cases, the fact that it’s a form of reactive treatment rather than being proactive. Alone, it does very little to treat the underlying causes of substance use disorder. For that reason, MAT is often utilized as a part of a comprehensive treatment program that involves therapy and lifestyle adjustments.
Those who suffer from opioid or alcohol use disorder have to be eligible to participate in medication-assisted treatment in Lowell, MA. The first major step is to receive an official diagnosis from a physician. This assessment isn’t arbitrary. It’s a way to gauge which medication will prove most effective in MAT or if it’s even the correct course of action. Patients who do learn that MAT is the right call will be able to overcome their withdrawal symptoms faster, suffer from fewer to no cravings, and feel more at ease during treatment.
Clear Steps Recovery Provides Lowell Medication-Assisted Treatment
At Clear Steps Recovery, we want to make treatment as safe and comfortable as possible for our patients. Recovering from substance use disorder can be a painful ordeal at times, but with the right oversight, the process can be smooth and painless. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be effortless—breaking addiction is still a mentally and physically demanding task regardless of medication assistance. It takes a high constitution and total commitment to seeing your recovery through to achieve sobriety that will last.
We’re willing to work with you all the way to your goal. Call the team at Clear Steps Recovery today at 603.769.8981 to learn how our medication-assisted treatment in Lowell, MA, can improve your journey to recovery.
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