What is Medication-Assisted Treatment for?
Opioid medications often are prescribed to reduce severe and chronic pain. However, while they’re intended for short-term, acute pain management, for many patients, these powerful prescriptions can create negative consequences and unfortunately become addictive.
It can be extremely difficult to stop using them without an expert’s assistance after developing a dependence on painkillers. Debilitating withdrawal symptoms are the first to impact the patient, in addition to the return of the painful condition that led them to originally seek out opioids.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) uses FDA approved medications such as Buprenorphine products such as Suboxone, Subutex and Naloxone to treat substance use disorder including opioid use disorder (OUD). Research has shown that a combination of MAT and therapy can successfully treat OUD, help sustain recovery from addition and prevent or reduce opioid overdose.
Is Medication-Assisted Treatment Effective?
Clinical studies have proved the effectiveness of MAT to treat individuals suffering from substance use disorders. When combined with behavioral therapy, MAT provides an individualized treatment that can address the needs of most patients.
Medication-Assisted Treatment can:
- Improve patient survival
- Increase retention in treatment
- Decrease illicit opiate use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders
- Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
- Improve birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders and are pregnant
- Lowering a person’s risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis C by reducing the potential for relapse
Is Medication-Assisted Treatment Safe?
When taken as prescribed, medications used in MAT programs are safe and effective in helping patients decrease their dependence on opioids.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, buprenorphine used in MAT program has special pharmacological properties that assist with:
Decreasing the potential for misuse
Decreasing the effects of physical dependence to opioids such as withdrawal symptoms and cravings
Increasing safety in cases of overdose
Per SAMHSA, the MAT medications such as buprenorphine are safe to use for months, years, or even a lifetime.
How do I get enrolled in a Medication-Assisted Treatment program?
Dr. Jinghui Xie, MD/PhD, pain management physician at Caring Pain Management, was recently approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), dependence and addiction through Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), using Buprenorphine products such as Suboxone, Subutex and Naloxone.
If you are interested in learning more about the MAT program, please call Caring Pain Management or request an appointment using the online scheduler.
