Medication Management &
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication Management

Effective medication management services reduce illness and death rates to provide safer and more reliable healthcare services for those struggling with mental health disorders. Medications play a critical role in the treatment of various mental health disorders.

Medication management generally includes the completion of a thorough history and physical, monitoring of side effects and symptoms, and collaboration between the client, physician, and treatment team to improve the quality of life for each client. Finding the right medication can positively impact one’s ability to manage mood swings, maintain relationships and employment, and improve his or her ability to cope with stressful life circumstances.

Medication- Assisted Treatment (MAT)

According to NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse), more than 90,000 overdose deaths were reported between 2019 to 2020. Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,088 in 2010 to 68,630 in 2020 (CDC WONDER). This is a staggering statistic and highlights the extent of our nation’s opioid crisis.

What is medication-assisted treatment (MAT)?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications in combination with counseling that has been proven to effectively treat substance use disorders in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

The most common medications administered are buprenorphine and naltrexone.

Buprenorphine:
Buprenorphine is a partial agonist drug, meaning it works similarly to an agonist but with weaker effects on the brain. When taken daily as a tablet or given as an injection or implant, it reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings for drugs.

Naltrexone:
Naltrexone works as an antagonist, which means it blocks any opioid effects on the brain. Even if someone were to relapse while taking naltrexone, they would not feel the effects of the opioids. Naltrexone is administered as either a daily pill or a monthly injection. It can be prescribed by any doctor or clinician.

Why Medication Assisted Treatment?

Research into the efficacy of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) has been promising. Studies have shown that utilizing MAT services in combination with counseling has produced more positive results than any other form of addiction treatment. MAT studies also conclude that utilizing MAT services decreases other high-risk behaviors such as needle sharing and has led to a decrease in HIV and Hepatitis C infections.