Here at The Healing Center we believe in all forms of addiction treatment. We understand that long-term recovery from addiction poses many challenges and is not always a linear process. Our treatment program embraces a wide range of therapeutic services from holistic therapies to western medicine. There is no one size fits all form of recovery, which is why we believe that MAT Florida should be an option for all of our clients.
What is a MAT Florida Program?
MAT stands for medication assisted treatment which utilizes FDA approved medications to treat withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for substance abuse disorder treatment. MAT Florida programs are normally used in combination with other forms of treatment such as behavioral therapy and holistic therapies. When used appropriately, medication assisted treatment has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of relapse and improve the chances of long-term recovery. In recent years, MAT has become a popular approach for treating patients who are suffering from opiate addiction. Once an evaluation is done on the patient it can be determined if MAT treatment is the right fit for them.
Why is MAT Needed?
MAT is extremely beneficial for individuals who have a long history of substance abuse. Research shows that medication in combination with therapy can successfully treat substance abuse disorders and increase the chances of long-term recovery. Medication-assisted treatment has become especially important in recent years due to the opiate crisis. It was estimated in 2018 that over 2 million people were suffering from an opioid abuse disorder. MAT medications for opiate abuse, such as suboxone, and methadone, greatly increase an individual’s chances for long-term recovery. The medications used in MAT therapies can help ease withdrawal symptoms and over time aid in rewiring the pathways in the brain that have been damaged due to long-term drug abuse.
At The Healing Center, we offer a MAT Florida program that is clinically supervised and effective. We work one on one with our patients to design a medication-assisted treatment plan that includes behavioral therapy so that our patients are addressing both the symptoms of addiction and the root cause of the addiction. We understand the benefits that medication-assisted treatment can have for individuals, and our goal is to find the best treatment option that will help you maintain long-term recovery.
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Medications Used for MAT
There are a number of different medications used in MAT Florida programs. The FDA has approved multiple medications for the use of treating opiate addictions and alcohol addictions. The medications are meant to not only help withdrawal symptoms, but also reduce the psychological cravings that occur when detoxing from these substances.
MAT Treatment Of Alcohol
Naltrexone, Disulfiram, and Acamprosate are all FDA approved medications for alcohol abuse disorder. Naltrexone is a medication that helps reduce the number and intensity level of cravings in individuals who are suffering from alcoholism. It also blocks the brain from experiencing the side effects of alcohol that are addicting, including relaxation and pleasure. If an individual is no longer experiencing the positive side effects of alcohol, then they have a tendency to drink less and even stop completely. Disulfiram, also known as Antabuse, is an averse agent medication. This means that if someone consumes alcohol while taking this medication they will experience negative side effects and become sick. For this reason, Disulfiram can help prevent relapses and continued alcohol abuse. Acamprosate is another medication that is used for alcohol addiction treatment. This medication can also help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
MAT Treatment Of Opioids
Buprenorphine, Methadone, and Naltrexone are the FDA approved medications used to treat opioid addictions. Naltrexone works the same way for opiates as it does for alcohol. It blocks users from feeling the euphoric effects produced by opiates and therefore reduces the individual’s desire to use. Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist. Buprenorphine reduces the withdrawal symptoms from opiate detox and decreases psychological cravings. Buprenorphine also helps to reduce the risk of overdose and lowers the potential for misuse of opiates. Methadone is another FDA approved medication for MAT opioid treatment. Methadone is given as a daily dose and is a long acting opioid agonist. Similarly to the other medications Methadone reduces the cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and helps block the effects of opiates.
Benefits of MAT
Medication assisted treatment has many benefits if it is done under the proper supervision and guidance by a licensed medical professional. The goal of MAT programs is for the individuals who participate to achieve long-term recovery. MAT programs have been proven to have the following benefits:
- Decreased risk of overdose and death due to substance abuse
- An ability to live a self-directed and healthy life
- A decrease misuse of alcohol and drugs
- Decreased criminal activity in substance abusers
- Reduce withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings
- An increased in the patient’s ability to live as a fully participating and functioning member of society
MAT Florida Program
The Healing Center provides clients with a clinically supervised MAT Florida program in Fort Lauderdale. We design a personalized treatment plan for our patients participating in medication assisted treatment that also includes behavioral and holistic therapies. If you believe that yourself or your loved one could benefit from a medication assisted treatment program contact our admissions team today to set up an evaluation from our licensed medical staff.
