Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Explained: What It Is and How It Works

Medication Assisted Treatment, MAT, saves lives. Decades of research show that pairing FDA approved medications with counseling reduces overdose deaths, keeps people in treatment longer, and improves quality of life. This guide explains how MAT actually works.

What is MAT?

MAT is the use of FDA approved medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to treat substance use disorders. It is the gold standard of care for opioid and alcohol use disorders.

The medications used in MAT

For opioid use disorder

• Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex): reduces cravings and withdrawal, blocks the effect of other opioids.
• Methadone: long acting opioid agonist, dispensed through licensed opioid treatment programs.
• Naltrexone (Vivitrol): monthly injection that blocks opioid effects and reduces cravings.

For alcohol use disorder

• Naltrexone: reduces cravings and the reinforcing effects of alcohol.
• Acamprosate: helps the brain rebalance after long term alcohol use.
• Disulfiram: creates unpleasant reactions to alcohol, supporting abstinence.

Is MAT replacing one drug with another?

No. MAT medications are prescribed, monitored, and taken as directed. They stabilize brain chemistry so the person can focus on recovery, hold a job, be a parent, and rebuild. Research shows people on MAT are about half as likely to die from overdose compared to those in abstinence only treatment.

What counseling looks alongside MAT

Medication alone rarely produces the fullest recovery. Effective MAT includes individual therapy, group therapy, relapse prevention skills, and, when appropriate, family sessions. At Open Arms, MAT clients meet weekly with a counselor and can join recovery groups.

Common myths, corrected

Myth	Fact
MAT is a crutch.	MAT is evidence based medicine, like insulin for diabetes.
You have to stop using before starting MAT.	MAT is designed to reduce withdrawal and cravings; you do not need to be abstinent to start.
You can only stay on MAT for a short time.	Length of treatment is clinical, not calendar based. Many people stay on MAT for years.

How to start MAT with Open Arms

1. Call our intake line for a confidential screening.
2. Meet with a licensed prescriber for a full medical assessment.
3. Begin medication and counseling within days of intake.