If you’ve looked into different types of addiction treatment, you’ve probably seen that all treatment starts with detox. But what is MAT addiction treatment? How is that different from detox?
What is MAT in Addiction Treatment?
MAT treatment stands for medication-assisted treatment, and it refers to a specialized detox program where individuals are given FDA-approved medications to help them manage symptoms of withdrawal during and after detox.
MAT vs. Traditional Detox
So, what is MAT addiction treatment compared to traditional detox? Traditional detox helps you deal with the detoxification process for any substances, but MAT uses FDA-approved medications for opioid addiction and alcoholism in particular.
The medications prescribed with MAT are there to wean you from the physical addiction and help you transition more effectively, While others are there to produce negative effects if you drink so that you are less likely to relapse after the fact.
Common medications include:
- Alcohol antagonists: These are medications that make you physically sick when you drink alcohol so that you don’t get the positive feelings from alcohol consumption but instead get things like severe headaches and vomiting, making it less likely that you will relapse
- GABA analogs: These block the brain signals associated with alcohol withdrawal, and this can make it easier to get through your initial detox process
- Opioid agonists: These are attached to the same receptors in your brain that opioids attach to, but they don’t give you a high, which means you can relieve the severe cravings during opioid withdrawal with a medication
- Opioid antagonists: These block your opioid receptors from activating, so they don’t relieve the withdrawal symptoms like opioid agonists, but they decrease your cravings and prevent you from feeling high when you use opioids, which makes it less likely that you will relapse
Some of the opioid agonists or antagonists can also be used as part of treatment for alcohol addiction, especially if you struggle with addiction to multiple substances.
What is MAT Addiction Treatment Timeline?
If you are considering medication-assisted treatment, the timeline will vary from one person to the next. Much the same as any other form of detox, this process is based heavily on your individual needs but will average up to seven days for your detox with continued therapy.
MAT Requirements
FDA requirements for anyone receiving medication assisted treatment are that they be at a qualified facility with the licensing to provide the medications and that they continue with ongoing treatment.
Ongoing treatment after detox refers to the inpatient or outpatient therapy that you must participate in to help ensure that you learn the necessary skills to overcome the psychological aspect of addiction.
It is equally important that you continue with this part of the treatment as different medications may be prescribed on a continual basis to help manage cravings, and those would need to be monitored by the same qualified professionals.
Who Can Provide MAT Addiction Treatment?
Only a qualified treatment center can provide MAT. Not all treatment centers have the certification to offer the FDA-approved medications.
If you are in need of MAT addiction treatment, it is best that you review what each treatment center has to offer in your area. Be sure to specify that you are looking for MAT.
If you have found a center that offers ongoing care, you might be able to undergo MAT detox at one location and continued therapy at another.
Starting MAT Treatment with Infinity Recovery
Infinity Recovery offers a MAT program in San Diego that is designed to address the physical and psychological aspects of addiction recovery.
When you come to our treatment center, we will start with FDA-approved medication to help ease your withdrawal symptoms and, from there, prescribe medication to reduce cravings and help you with any underlying mental health disorders. As a licensed medication-assisted treatment facility, our goal is to help minimize your withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse. We give you the personalized support you need for a lasting recovery.
Our team incorporates holistic care into your traditional MAT with things like:
- Nutritional counseling
- Mindfulness practices
- Fitness activities
All of these encourage improved physical and mental well-being and subsequently enhance your recovery. Our expert team will stay by your side to modify your recovery program as necessary and keep you as comfortable as possible.
Call our team for an assessment today at 858-967-4140.
