Medication-assisted treatment
(MAT), which includes both medications and behavioural therapies, is considered
the new gold standard in treating substance use disorder (SUD) and preventing
the incidents of overdose. In the midst of the opioid and heroin epidemic of
the United States, it is gaining more acceptances among medical practitioners
as an effective treatment for opioid addiction. MAT has an impressive record in
reducing cravings, blocking the effects of opioids and stabilizing patients.
Application of MAT
MAT is the result of years of
research and efforts undertaken to understand the way the brain and body
interact with drugs being abused. When heroin or an opioid enters a person's
system, it travels to the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier where they
attach to the opioid receptors. As a result, one witness’s changes in the level
of neurotransmitters and brain activity, which almost immediately produce the feeling
of euphoria.
Many medical practitioners also
recommend MAT to the patients trying to sustain post recovery. Medications,
such as naltrexone, acamprosate, etc., used in MAT block the euphoric effects
of opioids and alcohol, alleviate physiological cravings and stabilize the body
without the negative effects of the abused drug. They assist in arresting the
psychological pathway and the brain's reward-seeking pattern, thereby
preventing the sensation of being high.
By diminishing overdose rate and
increasing the scope for long-term abstinence, these medicines assist in
tapering a patient off opioids totally. Generally, medications used in MAT are
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are customized
according to each patient's needs.
Opioid antagonists are also used in
MAT. Antagonist affixes to the opioid receptors in the brain that prevent
opioids from interacting with them. In case a patient undergoing MAT relapses
during the treatment, his or her chances of experiencing the symptoms of
withdrawal and relapse become negligible.
Though the duration of MAT varies
depending on the medication used, it is usually administered over a period of
six months. Since the final objective of MAT is to ensure "full
recovery" of the patients, it has succeeded in significantly improving
patient survival, retention in treatment; birth comes among women patients,
etc. After
undergoing MAT, patients have also
been integrated into the community through access to appropriate employment
opportunities and the decrease in criminal activities.
Underutilization of MAT
MAT is not a substitute for the
existing addiction treatment and interventions. It is an integrated approach
that aims to address addiction from the clinical, behavioural, social and
medical direction. Despite receiving increasing support from health agencies,
such as the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), MAT remains significantly underutilized due to
the strict guidelines.
However, there is enough evidence
supporting the efficacy of MAT. Besides the above-mentioned benefits, it is
proved to be an effective tool in reducing the risk of a relapse. Since opioids
and alcohol cover the majority of addiction cases in the U.S., MAT can play a
vital role in overcoming these challenges. Furthermore, patients cared for
under MAT are more likely to survive an opioid overdose and stave off their
drugs of abuse.
Recovery roadma
By using the right drug in the
proper dose, MAT has become an effective way of addressing the problems of a
person addicted to opioids or alcohol. In the wake of ongoing opioid and heroin
crisis and the emergence of new synthetic opioids, the integration of the
recent advancements in the medical field in MAT can enable better results. It
is essential that more tools like MAT are developed and utilized to contain the
rising wave of opioid epidemic.
If you or your loved one is
battling an addiction to opioids or any other drug, get in touch with Sovereign
Health to gain access to the latest innovative treatment methods by a reputed
opioids treatment centre in Spartanburg. Find your desired centre and enjoy the
hassle-free service.
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