Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an approach that combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat substance use disorders, mainly opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. The medications can ease withdrawal, reduce cravings or block the effects of opioids or alcohol, which gives you a steadier foundation to do the work of recovery. Research shows that medication for opioid use disorder is linked to a lower risk of overdose and death.
If you have heard mixed messages about MAT, you are not alone. This guide explains how it works, which medications are used and what to expect.
What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
MAT treats addiction as the medical condition it is. Instead of relying on willpower alone, it uses medication to help stabilize brain chemistry while therapy helps you build new skills, habits and support. You may also hear the term MOUD, which stands for medications for opioid use disorder.
The whole-person part matters. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says buprenorphine should be prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes counseling and other services. In an outpatient program, that can mean individual therapy, group therapy, family sessions and psychiatric care alongside your medication.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), three medications are approved to treat opioid use disorder: buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone. All three have been shown to be safe and effective. They work in different ways, as SAMHSA’s treatment guide on medications for opioid use disorder explains.
Methadone
SAMHSA describes methadone as a long-acting full opioid agonist. It reduces or eliminates withdrawal symptoms and blunts or blocks the effects of illicit opioids. When used to treat opioid use disorder, methadone can only be dispensed through a SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment program.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings and blocks the effects of other opioids. It was the first opioid use disorder medication that could be prescribed or dispensed in a doctor’s office, which greatly expanded access. Learn more about Suboxone for opioid addiction and compare options in methadone vs. Suboxone.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, which means it blocks the effects of opioids rather than activating the same receptors. SAMHSA notes that an extended-release injectable form is approved for both opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder, and any practitioner licensed to prescribe medications can prescribe it. Because naltrexone can trigger withdrawal, SAMHSA’s treatment guide says people need to be opioid-free first, typically at least 7 days without short-acting opioids and 10 to 14 days without long-acting opioids.
Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) lists three FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder:
- Naltrexone, available as a pill or injection, helps reduce the urge to drink.
- Acamprosate helps ease some of the uncomfortable feelings that can come with not drinking.
- Disulfiram causes unpleasant symptoms if you drink, which discourages drinking.
NIAAA notes that all approved medications are nonaddictive and can be used alone or with behavioral treatment and mutual-support groups. Our guide to medications for alcohol use disorder goes into more detail.
Does Medication-Assisted Treatment Work?
The evidence is strong, especially for opioids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that medication treatment of opioid use disorder has been associated with reduced risk for overdose and overall death. The CDC also advises that detox on its own, without medication, is not recommended for opioid use disorder because it increases the risk of returning to use, overdose and overdose death.
A National Institutes of Health-funded study of more than 17,000 overdose survivors in Massachusetts found that opioid overdose deaths dropped by 59% for people receiving methadone and 38% for people receiving buprenorphine over a 12-month follow-up. Yet fewer than one-third of those survivors received any of these medications in the year after their overdose.
Common Myths About MAT
“It’s just trading one drug for another.”
SAMHSA’s treatment guide explains that addiction is more than physical dependence. It involves changes that affect thinking, emotions and behavior. Taking a prescribed medication as directed, with medical oversight, is very different from the loss of control that defines addiction.
“MAT should only be short-term.”
SAMHSA’s guide calls arbitrary time limits on opioid use disorder medication inadvisable, and says the best results come when a person takes medication for as long as it provides a benefit. Any change to your medication should be planned with your prescriber, never done suddenly on your own.
“If you’re on medication, you’re not really in recovery.”
Recovery is about health, stability and a meaningful life. Medication is one tool, and therapy and support are others. Many people use all three.
Medication-Assisted Treatment at The Ranch Pennsylvania Outpatient Services
At our Lancaster, PA programs, medication-assisted treatment may be available when clinically appropriate. Our team provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management alongside evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT and motivational interviewing. You can receive this care in our partial hospitalization program, which meets for full days five days a week, or our intensive outpatient program, which meets three days a week for three hours.
We do not provide detox on site. If you need medical detox, it can be coordinated with residential care at The Ranch Pennsylvania before you step down to outpatient treatment with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MAT only for opioid addiction?
No. FDA-approved medications exist for both opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. Naltrexone, for example, is used for both.
Can I get MAT in outpatient rehab?
Often, yes. Buprenorphine and naltrexone can be prescribed outside a specialty clinic, while methadone for opioid use disorder is only dispensed through certified opioid treatment programs.
What should I do if someone on MAT might be overdosing?
Call 911 right away and give naloxone (Narcan) if opioids may be involved. See our guide on how to use Narcan.
Does insurance cover MAT?
Many plans cover medications for substance use disorders, but benefits and prior approval rules vary. Our admissions team can check your coverage.
Get Help With Medication-Assisted Treatment in Lancaster, PA
If you are curious whether medication could help your recovery, we are here to talk it through without judgment. Explore our addiction treatment programs, verify your insurance or learn what to expect when you start. We serve Lancaster County and central Pennsylvania, including York, Harrisburg, Reading and Lebanon. Our admissions team is available 24/7, and calls are free and confidential.
