Member Topics: MAT (MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT)

An Allies member has her daughter living with her, which felt like a relief, at least at first. She had kicked her methamphetamine habit and completed detox and treatment. Now, they’ve slipped into a dance that doesn’t feel so great. She’s using less, but is substituting fentanyl for the methamphetamine. Mom sees that there’s a cycle that needs to be broken, but she wants to keep building on the positive aspects of their relationship. She’s also not sure if having her daughter at home is too enabling, but she promised to let her stay.    with Louise Stillman, MSc, Editor   Dr. Dominique Simon-Levine offers 9 important guidelines for our member, as well as guidance specific to her situation with her daughter. Dominique’s suggestions range from CRAFT-based communication, boundaries, and rewards approaches, to questions around Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).    This question originally appeared on the Allies in Recovery Member Discussion Blog, where experts respond to members’ real-life questions and concerns.    Member: “Thank you so much for all you’ve taught me. Prior to this, I told my 22yo daughter to leave my home. She lived in her car for a month, lost 30 lbs. and was out of control. Finally agreed to detox and treatment. Finished detox and she refused further help. I promised I’d never kick her out again and adopted CRAFT and I work an alternate strategy. She has been home for 2 months now. Our communication and relationship are amazing; however, we have a dance we do that I need to break the cycle of.   She always comes home, or calls, and there seems to be a reduction in her use; however, in the past month she has switched from smoking methamphetamine  back to smoking fentanyl. She does it in her room while I’m asleep or at work. I find foil and other paraphernalia.    She holds a full-time job and pays for her own car, so the CRAFT approach of “allowing natural consequences” is confusing for me. I speak to her, and she apologizes; or if she is triggered tells me I love searching her room and I’ve made a hobby of it — and yes, I do it daily and throw everything away. What is the next step? I’m at such a loss… I can remove my hugs and positive support as a consequence; however…