Medically-assisted Treatment: Myths vs. Facts
Medically-assisted treatment, or MAT, are medications that can be used in combination with behavioral therapy, or other forms of treatment, to treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). The FDA has approved three medications to treat OUD: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Methadone and buprenorphine are opioid agonists, meaning that they reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms by occupying and activating the brain’s opioid receptors. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it eliminates the euphoric effect of opioids by blocking the activation of opioid receptors. You can find more information on how these medications work here.
All of these medications have been shown to increase survival and retention in treatment, as well as reduce the risk of disease transmission. However, myths and misconceptions surrounding MAT have cast a negative light on these life-saving medications. It is important for us to separate the facts from the myths so that we can better understand how to offer the best support for our friends, family, and community struggling with OUD.
Myth #1: MAT just trades one addiction for another / People who use MAT aren’t really “sober”.
Fact: MAT does not get someone “high”. Instead, MAT relieves cravings, reduces withdrawal symptoms, and removes the euphoric feeling associated with opioid use. In fact, using MAT to treat OUD is the same thing as taking medication for other chronic conditions, like diabetes!
Myth #2: MAT should only be used short-term.
Fact: There is no evidence that demonstrates benefits from stopping MAT. In fact, evidence shows that patients on MAT for at least 1-2 years have the greatest success rates in long-term recovery.
Myth #3: There is no proof that MAT is more effective than abstinence.
Fact: While abstinence may work for some, there is no clear-cut path to recovery, so it is important to understand all of the options someone has to help them enter recovery. MAT is an evidence based approach, and is often recommended as a first line of treatment by many institutes and organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Learn more about the truth behind MAT here.
No one’s journey to recovery looks the same, so it is important to understand different approaches people with substance use disorders can take to enter long-term recovery. MAT is just one of the many tools that can be used to improve the happiness and healthiness of people struggling with OUD. To learn more about MAT and other recovery services or how to find them, click here, or go to the Rise Above Facebook page to learn more about recovery services in your community!
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