Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
What is medication assisted treatment? - correct answer "Medication-assisted
treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to
provide a "whole-patient" approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Medications used in
MAT are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and MAT programs are clinically driven
and tailored to meet each patient's needs."
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). (n.d.). SAMHSA. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from
https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
What are the three MATs for OUD? - correct answer - Methadone
- Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone)
- Vivitrol (naltrexone)
How does MAT work? - correct answer MAT is commonly used for the
treatment of opioid addictions, including heroin and all prescription pain medications that contain
opiates. The therapy portion of treatment includes counseling and various forms of behavioral therapy
to help patients overcome their addictive propensities.
The medication portion of MAT is designed to relieve physiological cravings, normalize brain chemistry
and other body functions, and block the euphoric effect of opioids. It does this without the negative
effects caused by illicit drugs. There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat opioid
dependency, including naltrexone, methadone and buprenorphine.
Vivitrol or Naltrexone works by blocking the sedative and euphoric effects of abused drugs.
Methadone and Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) work by tricking the brain into thinking it's
receiving the abused drug. Patients do not experience the intense "high" produced by their former drug
of choice, but these medications do prevent withdrawal symptoms that would otherwise occur as
addiction subsides and substances clear the body.
What is medication assisted treatment? - correct answer "Medication-assisted
treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to
provide a "whole-patient" approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Medications used in
MAT are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and MAT programs are clinically driven
and tailored to meet each patient's needs."
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). (n.d.). SAMHSA. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from
https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
What are the three MATs for OUD? - correct answer - Methadone
- Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone)
- Vivitrol (naltrexone)
How does MAT work? - correct answer MAT is commonly used for the
treatment of opioid addictions, including heroin and all prescription pain medications that contain
opiates. The therapy portion of treatment includes counseling and various forms of behavioral therapy
to help patients overcome their addictive propensities.
The medication portion of MAT is designed to relieve physiological cravings, normalize brain chemistry
and other body functions, and block the euphoric effect of opioids. It does this without the negative
effects caused by illicit drugs. There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat opioid
dependency, including naltrexone, methadone and buprenorphine.
Vivitrol or Naltrexone works by blocking the sedative and euphoric effects of abused drugs.
Methadone and Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) work by tricking the brain into thinking it's
receiving the abused drug. Patients do not experience the intense "high" produced by their former drug
of choice, but these medications do prevent withdrawal symptoms that would otherwise occur as
addiction subsides and substances clear the body.
