If someone or a loved one suffers from substance abuse, they likely want to put it behind them. To add, they may wonder what options exist for treating drug and alcohol addiction. Medication-assisted treatment in Los Angeles provides effective results for those who qualify.

It provides a combination of FDA-approved medications that help treat withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, it uses behavioral therapy to help a person process their feelings. People using this type of addiction treatment can make a lot of progress in learning to stay sober.

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)? 

Woman receiving medication assisted treatment in Los AngelesMedication-assisted treatment (MAT) consists of a treatment used to help those who suffer from substance use disorders. As a matter of fact, it proves quite effective for alcohol and opioid addictions. Medication-assisted treatment in Los Angeles involves 2 approaches used at the same time. First, medical personnel provides FDA-approved medications. These meds help treat withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for substances.

Second, therapy provides the help people need to process their emotions as they pass through the early stages of recovery. Behavioral therapies help a person focus on their emotional wellbeing. In addition, therapists help teach healthy coping skills that aid in resisting the temptation to relapse.

Along with addressing the addiction, MAT also helps with mental health conditions. Many people commonly struggle with both an addiction and a mental disorder. This is called a dual diagnosis. MAT can provide a vital way to help people who deal with this challenging diagnosis.

During the intake process, we thoroughly evaluate our clients, including medical and psychological history. Based on this evaluation, our clients then work hand-in-hand with our counselors, addiction specialists, and other medical professionals. Because of this, they can determine if the person qualifies for MAT. From there, they decide which type of treatment plan they should begin.

Benefits of a Medication-Assisted Treatment Program

Medication-assisted treatment in Los Angeles gives a lot of benefits to those who use it. Because of this, people complete their MAT with a leg up on those who do not take advantage of it.

Benefits of MAT include:

  • Eliminates needless suffering during detox and early recovery
  • Time spent in detox and residential care can be shorter
  • Higher likelihood of completing detox than those who do not use it
  • Close supervision and monitoring from medical and psychological experts
  • Understanding the reasons for developing an addiction and reducing relapse
  • Teaches coping skills that make sobriety easier to maintain
  • Helps reduce the risk of relapse
  • Addresses any co-occurring mental health disorders
  • Avoids the dangers of trying to detox alone

What Medications are Used in Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Clinicians use 3 main medications during our Los Angeles medication-assisted treatment program. They provide different benefits, depending on a few things. These include the person’s physical and mental health. Along with that, how long they have been addicted and how much of the substance they typically ingest factor in.

Medications used in MAT include:

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is also known as Suboxone and Subutex. It is used to treat opioid addiction. It produces low to moderate feelings of euphoria similar to the opioid effect but without the danger. This helps fool the body into thinking it’s getting the substance it craves. As a result, cravings subside and it eases withdrawal symptoms.

Methadone

Methadone provides relief for withdrawal symptoms that occur when someone stops abusing opioids such as heroin. Similar to buprenorphine, it tricks the body into thinking it’s getting the drug it craves.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors in the brain. Because of this, a person will not feel the high they crave if they use opioids. Conversely, they will experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. This makes a person less likely to use the substance again. Furthermore, naltrexone can be administered if a person has overdosed on an opioid drug.

Addiction Therapy Services Used During MAT

In addition to medications, behavioral therapies come into play. The main types of therapy commonly used during medication-assisted treatment in Los Angeles include:

  • Individual therapy: This provides one-on-one counseling.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy: DBT helps with both mental health disorders and addiction. It teaches skills related to dealing with conflict and improving relationships.
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: CBT helps people learn to set and achieve goals and problem solve.
  • Group therapy: This brings peers together with a common goal of helping each other heal and make  progress in recovery.
  • Family therapy: Loved ones come together with the goal of healing the family and helping the person in treatment make progress.
  • Trauma therapy: Trauma lies at the heart of many addictions and challenging mental conditions. This therapy specifically addresses how to deal with trauma.

What to Expect in a Medication-Assisted Treatment Program in Los Angeles

Someone not familiar with MAT likely wonders how it works. With this in mind, we’ve laid out the steps for this treatment. First, people usually start with a detox program. This allows them to rid their bodies of the toxins built up during addiction. Once the toxins leave the body, the person no longer operates in a fog of drugs or alcohol. That being the case, they are much better prepared to begin initial treatment.

A person begins the next type of treatment right for them. An assessment done during detox will determine where they go next. For some, it means a residential program. For others, outpatient care provides what they need.

MAT often continues throughout residential and outpatient treatment. Medications can prove effective in the short-term or long-term. Some people use meds like methadone for several months or even years. In fact, therapies used as part of MAT usually continue throughout post-detox care. They can be a vital part of aftercare for many.

Begin Our Los Angeles Medication-Assisted Treatment at LA Detox

When a substance use disorder takes over a person’s life, they need professional help. Many people need more than just a detox program. With this in mind, LA Detox provides medication-assisted treatment in Los Angeles, California. It helps people suffering from addiction to alcohol and opioid drugs. Our specialized team assesses you to see if MAT provides the right choice for you. Then, they get to work helping you ease your way into sobriety.

Contact us now and find out how easy it is to get started on living a healthy new life.