Medication-Assisted Treatment FAQ

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, alongside counseling and behavioral therapies, to treat substance use disorders. MAT provides a “whole-patient” approach to treat addiction to opioids such as heroin or prescription pain relievers. MAT is not a standalone treatment. It combines medications with behavioral therapy, psychosocial supports, and other wraparound services, leading to the best outcomes. MAT helps treat opioid use disorder (OUD) by helping normalize brain chemistry, blocking the euphoric effects of opioids, and relieving physical cravings, without the negative effects of heroin.

There are three FDA-approved medications used in the treatment of OUD: methadone, buprenorphine (i.e., Suboxone), and extended-release naltrexone (i.e., Vivitrol). According to the World Health Organization, buprenorphine and methadone are “essential medicines.” For people struggling with addiction, the use of these assistive medications in combination with behavioral services can help sustain recovery better than just medication or psychosocial treatment on their own.

• Decreases opioid-related overdose deaths
• Decreases illicit opioid use
• Increases social functioning and retention in treatment
• Decreases criminal activity
• Decreases transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C
• Improves maternal and fetal outcomes for pregnant or breastfeeding women

MAT is not the same as substituting one addictive drug for another. When someone receives MAT for OUD, the dosage of medication used does not produce the “high” associated with opioid misuse. These medications restore balance to the brain circuits affected by addiction, allowing the brain to heal while working toward recovery. MAT is analogous to taking medication for diabetes—in conjunction with behavioral and lifestyle changes, they help people manage the physical aspects of their disorder so they can maintain their recovery.

Despite decades of clinical research showing the efficacy of MAT in treatment OUD, MAT is still not widely used. Fewer than half of privately-funded substance use disorder treatment programs offer MAT and only one-third of patients with opioid dependence at these programs actually receive it. Nearly all U.S. states do not have sufficient treatment capacity to provide MAT to every patient with OUD who needs treatment.

Stigma and misconceptions contribute to resistance amongst policymakers, treatment providers, and communities to support the use of MAT. While every patient has a unique path to recovery, the scientific evidence shows that MAT is a highly effective tool in the treatment of OUD that works very well for many patients. Each patient who suffers from OUD should have the choice of receiving treatment that is individualized to their circumstances and needs – whether medication-assisted or not. Increasing access to MAT for patients with OUD will increase patients’ ability to make that choice, and will be a critical part of addressing the current opioid epidemic.