Triggr Health
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat opioid or alcohol use disorder — considered an evidence-based standard of care, particularly for opioid use disorder.
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(844) 569-1713How MAT Works
The medications used in MAT — methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone for opioid use disorder; acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone for alcohol use disorder — work by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. That reduction is what makes the behavioral and psychological work of recovery more accessible: it's difficult to engage meaningfully in therapy while in the grip of intense cravings or withdrawal.
A Common Misconception
MAT is sometimes mischaracterized as "replacing one drug with another." It isn't — the medications are administered at medically supervised doses specifically to stabilize brain chemistry and reduce harm, not to produce the same effects as the substance being treated. Major medical and public health bodies recognize MAT as an evidence-based treatment, not a substitution.
How Long People Stay on MAT
This varies significantly by individual. Some people use MAT for a period of months during early recovery and taper off under medical supervision; others continue longer-term, sometimes indefinitely, much like ongoing medication for any chronic condition. Neither approach is inherently right or wrong — it depends on the person's circumstances and response to treatment.
MAT Combined With Other Treatment
MAT is rarely used in isolation. Most programs combine it with counseling, whether that's outpatient therapy, IOP, or a fuller residential program, since medication addresses physical dependence while counseling addresses the behavioral patterns and underlying causes of substance use.