Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)*

*MAT includes Medication for Opiate Use Disorder (MOUD) and Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder (MAUD) 

MAT (medication-assisted treatment) is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of substance-use disorders. Research shows that when treating substance-use disorders, a combination of medication and behavioral therapies is most successful. (SAMHSA.gov)
 

Treating ALCOHOL USE DISORDER with Prescription Medication

Here's short article from The Partnership at Drugfree.org, from June 2012, about the three drugs currently approved by the USDA to treat alcohol dependency.

Pharmacological treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder – the evidence

Acamprosate (campral®)

Click here for information from addictionblog.org on acamprosate (campral®), a prescription medication used to reduce symptoms of withdrawal in the case of alcohol dependence.

Disulfiram

Click here for information on this prescription medication used to treat alcohol dependence

Naltrexone

Here is a page on Naltrexone from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Read about Naltrexone on addictionblog.org

This is a good article addressing Naltrexone, despite the unfortunate AA-bashing in the first half.

This is a video of Dr. Jordan Peterson on How to Avoid or Decrease Alcohol Consumption with naltrexone
 

Medication-Assisted Treatment for OPIOID ADDICTION

Medication-assisted treatment is treatment for addiction that includes the use of medication along with counseling and other support. Treatment that includes medication is often the best choice for opioid addiction. Take a look here for outlining the basics.

Methadone

Click here for a basic introduction to methadone, from addictionblog.org. Methadone is used as part of the treatment for withdrawl from heroin or narcotic pain medicines.

Click here for an article from addictionblog.org about methadone's efficacy

Naltrexone

Here is a page on Naltrexone from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Read about Naltrexone on addictionblog.org

Suboxone (buprenorphine)

This is a short article from addictionblog.org that introduces you to the basics of Suboxone (used for Opiate withdral).

This article from addictionblog.org addresses addiction to Suboxone.

This article from the Maryland Addiction Recovery Center addresses some of the disadvantages and dangers of Suboxone abuse.

This article from Narconon International presents the Effects of Suboxone.

Here is a list of FDA-approved MAT's (Medication-Assisted Treatments)