For people who are currently addicted to either alcohol or drugs such as opioids, there is one treatment available that is particularly effective at helping them to quit. Medication-Assisted Treatment, also called MAT, helps clients by combining medications and behavioral therapy in order to heal drug addiction. Our medication-assisted treatment program in Raleigh, NC has a “whole-body wellness” approach to treating drug addiction. With medication-assisted treatment, you can overcome your addiction, as well as heal any physical, emotional, or mental damage it has caused.

What are the Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment?

One of the reasons why medication-assisted treatment is such a frequently utilized program by our clients in Raleigh is because of how many benefits it has towards the treatment of drug addiction. For people who are addicted to alcohol or opioids, MAT can:

Make quitting much safer than trying to do it on your own.

What makes alcohol and opioid addiction so serious is just how difficult it is to stop using. They both cause intense cravings and seriously unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Both of which make it very likely people will relapse without treatment. People with very severe alcohol addictions are actually at risk of having potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include seizures, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, and even psychosis. Those going through opioid withdrawal can also become seriously ill, which can cause severe dehydration. MAT programs provide clients with 24-hour-a-day support from trained medical staff. MAT staff can help treat withdrawal symptoms and give you immediate help if you have dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Significantly reduce the risk of relapse.

Both alcohol and opioid addictions have a high rate of relapse, especially for those who do not get help at an addiction treatment facility. The medications that we are able to prescribe you work to block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids. This means that, if you relapse, you won’t get high or drunk. Some medications will even cause unpleasant side effects that make using substances very unappealing. While this may seem a bit extreme, studies show that these medications help to rewire your “reward system” by making substances unpleasant to use.

Support your recovery for the long term.

The reason why MAT works so well is that the medication it uses helps to normalize the areas of your brain that addiction has altered. This means you have fewer, less intense cravings. Also, the ability to find enjoyment in new, healthy activities instead of having to use substances to feel good. You can learn new hobbies, go back to things you gave up when you became an addict, and give your life more purpose and direction than ever before.

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

For people who have a serious or long-term addiction to alcohol, both cravings and withdrawal symptoms are very intense. The more severe your addiction, the more difficult it becomes to reduce or stop your drinking. Medication-assisted treatment for alcohol addiction currently offers three different medications to help those with alcohol addiction by preventing withdrawal and/or avoiding cravings. These include:

Naltrexone

A medication also utilized in opioid MAT, naltrexone can help those with alcohol addiction by blocking the euphoric effects of alcohol. This is another way to help prevent relapse, and keep you on your recovery plan.

Acamprosate

A medication that helps people with alcohol addiction by reducing cravings and helping to prevent relapse. Clients will need to be alcohol-free for at least five days before they can use it, and it is a good option for long-term recovery. Acamprosate is not effective if people drink large amounts of alcohol while taking it, or if they abuse illegal drugs.

Disulfiram

A medication that helps patients avoid relapse by causing unpleasant side effects if they drink even a small amount of alcohol. These effects include nausea, headache, difficulty breathing, and vomiting. Disulfiram should only be taken after a client has fully detoxed from alcohol.

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction can be something that sneaks up on a person who has a valid prescription for pain management. Or, it can be a result of the use of illegally obtained drugs. Opioids are one of the most addictive drugs abused today. They cause over half of all overdose deaths. What makes opioids so addictive is just how intense cravings are. In addition, how difficult withdrawal symptoms can be to deal with. MAT for opioid addiction offers three different medication options for clients to use, including:

Methadone

A medication that helps to reduce opioid cravings as well as withdrawal symptoms. Methadone also helps to prevent users from getting high if they relapse and use opioids.

Buprenorphine 

A medication that helps to reduce opioid cravings, and can be taken as a pill, injection, or patch.

Naltrexone

A medication usually utilized toward the end of addiction treatment, naltrexone prevents users from getting high if they take opioids, which aids in preventing relapse.

These medications work to treat opioid addiction because they interact with the same receptors in the brain that opioids do. This tricks your brain into thinking that you are still using opioids. They also combat withdrawal symptoms and cravings. These medications do carry a small risk of dependency. This is why it is very important that you only receive them through qualified facilities like AIM: Advaita Integrated Medicine. Here, your dose can be monitored appropriately.

Why Does MAT Include Therapy?

Medication alone isn’t enough to treat your symptoms. This is why our MAT clients also receive behavioral therapy. Therapy works to help you to unpack the emotional and mental toll that addiction has taken on you. It also helps you find any underlying reasons behind your addiction. You will also be given tips and tricks to avoid your substance-use triggers, as well as coping mechanisms to keep you from giving into the temptation of using again.

Treat Drug Addiction with Medication-Assisted Treatment in Raleigh, NC

For those with an alcohol or opioid addiction, medication-assisted treatment presents a very effective option for treating your symptoms, as well as arming you with tools to avoid relapse. The medications in MAT can be used for as long as you need them, which means you don’t have to worry about not having support when you need it. 

If you are interested in enrolling in our medication-assisted treatment program for drug or alcohol addiction in Raleigh, or if you aren’t sure whether or not it would be right for you, we are here to help. We can provide you with more information about MAT, and set up a consultation to discuss your symptoms to help you decide if you would benefit from this effective drug treatment in Raleigh. Contact us today to learn more, and let us help you to overcome your addiction and build a new, healthier life.