Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) combines medications with counselling and behavioural therapies to offer a comprehensive, “whole-patient” approach to treating substance use disorders.
This method not only addresses addiction but also considers other health conditions that may impact recovery, ensuring a more holistic treatment plan.
MAT Medications
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several medications to treat alcohol and opioid use disorders.
These medications help relieve withdrawal symptoms and reduce psychological cravings by addressing chemical imbalances in the body.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based approach that supports recovery and does not simply replace one drug with another.
Methadone, a medication for treating Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), can only be dispensed through a SAMHSA-certified Opioid Treatment Program (OTP).
Some Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) medications are classified as controlled substances due to their potential for misuse.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) categorises drugs into five schedules based on their medical use and risk of abuse.
Learn more about DEA drug schedules to understand how these classifications impact treatment and regulation.
The most commonly used medications for treating Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) include acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone.
While these medications do not cure AUD, they are most effective when combined with a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programme, which includes counselling and behavioural therapies to support recovery.
- Acamprosate: Acamprosate is designed for individuals in recovery who have stopped drinking and want to maintain abstinence. It helps prevent relapse but does not manage withdrawal symptoms if alcohol is consumed. The medication is most effective when started on the fifth day of abstinence, reaching full effectiveness within five to eight days. Available in tablet form, it is taken three times daily at consistent intervals. Possible side effects include diarrhea, upset stomach, appetite loss, anxiety, dizziness, and difficulty sleeping.
- Disulfiram: Disulfiram is used to treat chronic alcoholism, particularly in individuals who have completed detox or are in early abstinence. Taken once daily in tablet form, it should never be consumed while intoxicated or within 12 hours of drinking alcohol. If alcohol is consumed, disulfiram triggers unpleasant reactions such as nausea, headache, vomiting, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, which can begin within 10 minutes and last for over an hour.
- Naltrexone: Naltrexone works by blocking the euphoric effects and intoxication associated with alcohol consumption. This helps individuals with AUD reduce alcohol use, stay motivated in treatment, and prevent relapse
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
Three medications—buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone—are commonly used in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder.
These treatments help individuals dependent on short-acting opioids (e.g. heroin, morphine, codeine) and semi-synthetic opioids (e.g. oxycodone, hydrocodone).
These medications can be safely used for months, years, or even a lifetime, but consult a doctor before stopping treatment.
- Buprenorphine: Suppresses opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Learn more about buprenorphine. - Methadone: Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms while blunting or blocking opioid effects. Learn more about methadone.
- Naltrexone: Blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids, preventing the high associated with opioid use. Learn more about naltrexone.
Opioid Overdose Prevention Medication
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses the toxic effects of an opioid overdose.
Recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an essential medication, naloxone plays a critical role in emergency overdose intervention and is a key component of a functioning healthcare system.
- Naloxone: Rapidly reverses opioid overdoses, restoring normal breathing and preventing fatal outcomes.
Learn more about naltrexone.
Counselling and Behavioural Therapies
Under federal law (42 CFR 8.12), patients receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) must also participate in counselling.
This may include various behavioural therapies, along with medical, vocational, educational, and other assessment and treatment services.
Regardless of the treatment setting, MAT is most effective when combined with counselling and behavioural health therapies, offering a comprehensive, whole-person approach to recovery.