Medication Assisted Treatment

Our program is designed to help you manage your disease of addiction so that you can achieve long term recovery. For us, recovery means:

1. The remission of primary and secondary substance use disorders (i.e., no more use of alcohol or drugs that are not legitimately prescribed for you).
2. Improvement in your personal health and the ability to live a healthy lifestyle.
3. Positive re-integration with your family and with the community at large, including employment, education, social activities, etc.

For those who participate in the MAT option, generally there are four stages in the process:

1. Initial Treatment (3 to 7 days) – close medical observation and clinical assessment during the initiation of medication and dosage adjustment.
2. Early Stabilization (up to 8 weeks) – monitoring of your response to the medication, adjustment of dosage levels as medically indicated and participation in counseling and support services.
3. Maintenance (as long medically indicated) – maintenance on medication at medically and clinically appropriate levels, less frequent attendance at counseling and support services.
4. Continuing Care and Medication Assisted Recovery will include periodic check-ups, medical examinations to assure that the medication is still working appropriately for you and that you are not experiencing any side effects that would warrant a change in the medication protocol for you, and to provide any additional support you may need to help continue to self-manage your recovery.

Medication Assisted Treatment uses federally approved medications. These medications will:

• Lessen the sickness that results from the withdrawal of other opioids.
• Reduce the craving for opioids.
• Retain their blocking effects for 24 to 36 hours.