Medication Assisted Treatment

Welcome to Rehab South Florida, a recovery-focused substance abuse treatment facility which is helping clients to overcome addiction through heartfelt care, therapeutic support, and evidence-based treatments.

We’re happy to see you here as it’s a sign of your commitment to recovery. Getting help for your addiction is the best choice you could’ve made and RSF is excited to be a part of your journey.

In this guide, we’ll be discussing Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and how we use this approach to deliver successful recovery outcomes for clients. MAT, which includes opioid treatment programs (OTP), blends together the use of both medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy to address and treat addiction from all possible angles.

Studies show that those going through opioid detox/treatment at a rehab without Suboxone maintenance (MAT) are more likely to relapse than those receiving MAT. As such, Rehab South Florida designs individualized treatment plans that include Suboxone-assistance treatment in order to stabilize the opioid-addicted client.

While Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) helps those struggling with addiction to cope with the recovery experience, it’s important to know that it is not a cure-all solution for addiction (and it’s not ideal for “all” clients). There are a few primary medications used during MAT, namely, Suboxone, Naltrexone, and Vivitrol.

Each client being treated at our center will participate in individualized treatment programs and will undergo a complete health assessment by a licensed physician to ensure an adequate treatment plan can be created. The client can then receive Suboxone maintenance treatment to help alleviate the undesirable symptoms that opioid withdrawal can cause.

RSF clients will also participate in the ongoing treatment program along with individual/group therapies (with a certified, licensed therapist).

For some clients, Suboxone maintenance treatment helps in fighting addiction. Simultaneously, Suboxone treatment helps to save lives as it helps to prevent an overdose that may have otherwise emerged due to unknown additives in the heroin. Typically, street-level heroin contains fentanyl along with other dangerous substances.

Misconceptions of Medication-Assisted Treatment

As the “gold standard” of long-term care for opioid misuse disorder, Suboxone assisted treatment has continued to be used through rehabs nationwide. However, Suboxone has been a trending topic debated amongst the addiction recovery community.

Suboxone is classified as a Schedule III substance. Using Suboxone can create a new dependency and a new wave of withdrawal symptoms. However, since Suboxone is prescribed under our doctor’s supervision, with carefully monitored doses and tapering, the Suboxone doesn’t negatively impact the neuronal transmitter systems (as most narcotics do). There are a number of other imbalances and dysfunctions that Suboxone can help the prior opioid addict to avoid.

Another debate within the treatment community is in the philosophy of treatment. As an example, some 12-step programs believe that those in Suboxone-assisted treatment are trading one addiction for another one. On the contrary, clinical studies show that the best recovery outcomes occur when struggling addicts undergo MAT concurrently with 12-step programs and cognitive-behavioral therapies.

Raising Patient-Success Rates with Suboxone-Assisted Therapy

One of the great benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment is that it helps to decrease cravings and will relieve withdrawal symptoms that surface from opioid withdrawal (more on this below). Suboxone treatment will help you to maintain your commitment to recovery in a Florida drug rehab and will help you to gain control of your opioid addiction in a safe environment.

At Rehab South Florida, this means you’ll experience recovery without needing to worry about withdrawals or cravings. We understand that the longer an individual stays in treatment the more likely they are to recover. This is why we offer 30, 60, and 90-day programs. Suboxone-assisted therapy has essentially built a new pathway to long-term sobriety. RSF’s treatment protocols ensure clients receive the best recovery outcomes possible through with MAT and uphold our levels of care to industry-leading standards.

Is Suboxone Maintenance Treatment Effective?

Studies on Suboxone began in 1978. It was first proposed and introduced as a treatment solution to the growing opioid epidemic. Likely, the most important perk of Suboxone is its ability to stop the withdrawal symptoms that often lead the addict to seek out more of the heroin (or other opioid-based drugs). The fact that Suboxone can eliminate withdrawals makes it a powerful integration in client recovery plans.

Contrary to the belief of some, those on Suboxone (naloxone/buprenorphine) don’t really experience withdrawal. Suboxone users also don’t get a “high”, and there are neither cravings nor the desire to seek out heroin or other opioids. This allows the prior user to revert to a normal life free from dependency.

The American Medical Association advocates Suboxone-assisted treatments as the number-one treatment for combating opioid addiction.

Furthermore, the AMA also shared that buprenorphine (which is a generic component in Suboxone) is helpful for:

• Blocking effects caused by other opioids
• Helping patients to remain committed to rehab and recovery
• Helping users to reduce illicit opioid abuse
• Eliminating cravings and/or urges caused by opioid addiction
• Diminishing opioid withdrawal symptoms

Is Suboxone Treatment right for me?

To determine if Suboxone is right for you it’s best to contact our toll-free helpline at 561-933-5522.

Medication-assisted products that contain buprenorphine, such as Suboxone, are classified as a Schedule III controlled substance.

As such, rehab centers using these medications to treat opioid addictions do so in a judicious and carefully monitored manner. More so, it takes a licensed physician to prescribe Suboxone.

This is why all Rehab South Florida patients receive full on-site medical assessments immediately following admission.

If you, a friend or loved one is struggling with a never-ending cycle of opioid addiction/abuse, please contact our center to see if Suboxone or medication-assisted treatment is a good option for you. Our friendly, caring, and compassionate staff would be more than happy to discuss your addiction and recovery goals to determine if MAT is a suitable recovery approach for your addiction.

At Rehab South Florida, our Suboxone-assisted treatments can make the difference between a life-threatening overdose and a life full of joy and purpose. Let us show you the way by paving the path to an abuse-free lifestyle with treatment techniques and levels of care that’s backed by the support most centers don’t offer.

What is MAT and does it work?

Understanding the science behind how opiates work is crucial to the treatment of addictions involving this drug class. Opiates will trigger a cascade of neurotransmitter and brain activity to produce the high user’s crave, which, is delivered by the opioids traveling through the blood-brain barrier where it eventually attaches to the brain’s receptors. This brain activity greatly contributes to not only physical but also physiological addiction.

Medication-assisted treatment is effective in treating opioid addictions in a couple of unique ways. Rehab centers are able to prescribe clients opiates that will activate the same receptors as heroin.

But, the Suboxone (or one of the other assisting medications used) are slowly absorbed into the bloodstream over a longer duration of time. This starves off the withdrawal symptoms and will help to break the psychological link between the immediate high one experiences following use.
It’s important to know though that if someone relapses after taking an antagonist, the consequences can be fatal. This is due to the individual’s tolerance level declining over time as they use the Suboxone.

If Suboxone use stops and heroin use begins, the body’s tolerance level to heroin will be so substantially diminished that beginning to use again can have some bad consequences.

MAT – How does an Opioid Antagonist work?

In many cases, clients will also be prescribed an opioid antagonist. These are non-opioid medications that position themselves on the same receptors in the brain that heroin does so that they can be blocked.

This means that if someone relapses, the high from the heroin/opioids won’t be felt (due to the receptors being blocked).

Opioid addiction is complex in nature, requires intensive treatment, and should be supported by ongoing post-treatment support to diminish the chance of a relapse taking place.

At Rehab South Florida, we make use of evidence-based treatment practices that effectively reduce client discomforts while ensuring improved success rates.

Opioid antagonist medications are one of the many ways we ensure client comfort and stability. We take a total-wellness a patient-centric approach to beating addiction. Our in-house structured treatment protocols are designed to treat even the most severe of opioid addictions and MAT is one of the best ways to ensure that.

Is MAT Safe? Are Opioid Antagonists safe to use?

In the short, MAT and opioid antagonist medications are safe. After all, they’re replacing a dangerous opiate that could one day be fatal to the user. At the same time, it allows the prior addicts to return to work so they can continue to earn money and lead a purpose-driven life.
It’s true, what’s right for the treatment of addiction in one person may not be right for another. However, for the general population, many more times than not, such treatment is going to carry more benefits than those not participating in MAT.

Is the evidence behind MAT strong?

The data supporting MAT isn’t weak, it clearly works. Medication-assisted treatment clearly produces better recovery outcomes compared to those that don’t participate. Studies have demonstrated that the outcomes of those in medication-assisted therapy are much, much better. Mainly, this is due to these medications used in this therapy preventing a relapse in a significant manner.

Also, MAT has been shown to be an effective measure for preventing infectious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis. Second, MAT has also proven to prevent overdoses.

What medications are used during Medication Assisted Treatment?

MAT is the use of medication in conjunction with counseling and other behavioral-focused therapies. Its purpose is to treat opioid abuse and to prevent a relapse. To accomplish this, the use of adequate medicine is a must.

In 2013, approximately 1.8 million US-aged adults struggled with an opioid use disorder due to prescription painkillers. Of those nearly two million people, a little over 500,000 struggled with an opioid use disorder that involved heroin. MAT has proven to be a clinically effective approach to reducing the need for inpatient detox services, significantly.

The reason MAT has had such a great impact is because of the medications used during treatment, which include:

Methadone

This drug tricks the brain into believing that it’s still receiving the drug that was once abused. It doesn’t make the user high and will help them to feel normal and stable, once again. It’s also a withdrawal preventative and helps to reduce undesirable symptoms that otherwise would likely emerge.

Women that are pregnant or are expecting to be, including current mothers that are breastfeeding should inform the treatment provider of their plan to use methadone before they begin intake. Methadone is currently the only drug used in MAT that has FDA approval for expecting mothers or women that are breastfeeding.

Buprenorphine

Similar to methadone, buprenorphine helps to diminish withdrawal symptoms. It reduces and suppressed cravings for the previously abused drug as well. It’s administered “under the tongue” and is taken as a sublingual tablet or in pill form.

Naltrexone

This drug works uniquely compared to methadone and buprenorphine as far as how it treats opioid dependency. In the event that a prior addict relapses while using Naltrexone, the desirable, euphoric effects won’t be felt. This is because Naltrexone positions itself on the same receptors in the brain that heroin targets. It blocks access to impeding opiates so the user doesn’t get the craved high. In essence, it deters a relapse.

These are the three primary medications used throughout medication-assisted treatment.

Are you ready to experience full-on recovery from your opioid addiction?  Want a comprehensive treatment plan including clinically-backed therapies and medication-assisted therapy to ensure the best recovery outcome possible?

If so, contact our facility today for a recovery experience unlike any other.

Rehab South Florida patients enjoy individualized treatment plans tailored for their unique recovery needs and goals. Combined with MAT, clients receive exceptional support both during and after treatment.

Get yourself, your friend or loved one the support and treatment they need and contact our friendly admission specialists at 561-933-5522.

References

Lynne.walsh. “Medication and Counseling Treatment.” SAMHSA, 7 May 2019, https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/treatment.

Sheridan, Kate, et al. “How Effective Is Medication-Assisted Treatment for Addiction?” STAT, 15 May 2017, https://www.statnews.com/2017/05/15/medication-assisted-treatment-what-we-know/.

“Fentanyl | Drug Overdose | CDC Injury Center.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/fentanyl.html.

Carroll, Kathleen M, and Roger D Weiss. “The Role of Behavioral Interventions in Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment: A Review.” The American Journal of Psychiatry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Aug. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5474206/.

Campbell, Nancy D, and Anne M Lovell. “The History of the Development of Buprenorphine as an Addiction Therapeutic.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22256949.

“Reversing the Opioid Epidemic.” American Medical Association, https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/opioids/reversing-opioid-epidemic.

“AMA: Remove Barriers to Opioid-Use Disorder Treatment.” American Medical Association, 14 June 2018, https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/opioids/ama-remove-barriers-opioid-use-disorder-treatment.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Impacts of Drugs on Neurotransmission.” NIDA, 9 Mar. 2017, https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2017/03/impacts-drugs-neurotransmission.

“Suboxone (Buprenorphine HCl and Naloxone HCl): Side Effects, Interactions, Warning, Dosage & Uses.” RxList, https://www.rxlist.com/suboxone-drug.htm.

“Medication-Assisted Treatment Improves Outcomes for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder.” The Pew Charitable Trusts, https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2016/11/medication-assisted-treatment-improves-outcomes-for-patients-with-opioid-use-disorder.

Sciences, National Academies of, et al. “Trends in Opioid Use, Harms, and Treatment.” Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic: Balancing Societal and Individual Benefits and Risks of Prescription Opioid Use., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 July 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK458661/.