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The rehabilitation method most likely to free you from drug or alcohol addiction is medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Addiction medicine expert John Risi, NP, at New Spirit Health in Mesa, Arizona, specializes in MAT, using medications like buprenorphine, naloxone, and naltrexone to ease you through drug withdrawal and help you avoid relapses. Call New Spirit Health to learn more about using MAT to overcome addiction, or schedule a telehealth or in-person consultation online today.

What is medication-assisted treatment (MAT)?

MAT blends medications with behavioral therapies and counseling to provide a holistic approach to caring for patients with substance use disorders.

The FDA has approved various medications to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders. These medications correct chemical imbalances in your body, reduce psychological cravings, and ease you through withdrawal.

New Spirit Health uses Suboxone®, which contains buprenorphine to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine is an opioid agonist, meaning it affects the same brain functions as heroin and prescription opioids.

Suboxone also contains naloxone, which prevents opioid overdoses and reverses their toxic effects. Suboxone is available as a sublingual tablet or film.

Why would I need MAT?

You would benefit from MAT if you depend on opioid drugs or alcohol and can’t stop using these substances.

Substance use disorder or addiction develops when you regularly drink alcohol or take drugs, including prescription opioids for pain. At first, you experience such pleasant feelings when taking these substances that you want to keep using them. However, your body gets used to them, so you need higher, more frequent doses to achieve the same effects.

Addiction can ruin your life, affecting your health, family, job, friends, and even your home. MAT is a proven treatment that makes it easier to quit drugs and alcohol for good.

What part does therapy play in MAT?

MAT is far more effective, combined with counseling and behavioral therapies that offer a whole-person approach.

An experienced drug counselor can help you identify and address the feelings and experiences that led to your substance use disorder. These could be traumas from your past, environmental factors, or current stresses.

Behavioral therapy shows you how to challenge flawed thinking and adapt your reactions to problems so you don’t feel the need to take drugs or alcohol. 

The path to substance misuse recovery isn’t always straightforward, and relapses are by no means uncommon. However, a comprehensive treatment plan and effective support network can make all the difference.

Call New Spirit Health or book an appointment online today to discover how MAT can help you overcome substance use disorder.