The magnitude of the opioid epidemic is primed to rise more with the general population increasingly becoming reliant on some kind of opioid-originating substance or literally something recreational in every sense of it. Luckily, treatment is also increasing its speed with full force as there is this thing called medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders that can be used to fight the opioid epidemic. So, let’s dwell on the background and the benefits of medication-assisted treatment.
What is a Medical Assisted Treatment Program?
A medical-assisted treatment program is a type of treatment method that combines medication, counseling, behavioral therapy, psychosocial support, and other wraparound services, all of which are used to treat substance abuse disorders. MAT essentially reestablishes normal brain function, reduces substance cravings, and prevents relapse. In order to understand the benefits of medication-assisted treatment, you first need to understand the background of MAT that focuses on essentially why it is needed.
The Dangers Associated With Opioid Use
Naturally occurring opioids, including morphine, codeine, and heroin, all of which come from the opium poppy plant, synthetic opioids, like fentanyl and carfentanil, which are created in a lab, or semisynthetic opioids that include oxycodone and oxymorphone are all used as powerful agents for medical sedation and effective pain-relief. However, these powerful medicines also have a side effect: they are incredibly addictive from the get-go and that has perhaps become one of the biggest contributing factors to the opioid crisis as around 2 million people are physically and psychologically dependent on opioid use in the United States of America alone.
Whether it was as a result of illegal and recreational drugs or the prescribed opioids, we are well underway in the crisis, what is needed is to reap the benefits of medication-assisted treatment and in the next section, we discuss exactly what these are.
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The Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
For starters, MAT has long been considered an extremely effective treatment method against any type of substance abuse disorder. What are these substance abuse disorders? Well, it is a medical name for the physical and psychosocial dependence of different types of recreational and prescribed substances. It is essentially an addiction. MAT is recommended and endorsed by leading medical and mental institutes and organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Medical Association (AMA), and other organizations. Additionally, MAT only uses medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to block the growing epidemic of substance misuse. And there is not just one reason for it, but lots of them in the shape of the benefits of medication-assisted treatment that comes with it (The American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2017):
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Improved retention and social function during and after treatment
In order to recover from the negative effects of addiction, one’s cognitive processes need to be sound and that is why exactly it is one of the benefits of medication-assisted treatment.
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Begins the recovery process by decreasing illicit or prescribed opioid use
One of the foremost benefits of MAT is that it facilitates safer withdrawal by relieving symptoms and controlling excessive cravings that come due to the withdrawal processes. It can also save you from substance abuse anxiety disorder, where anxiety rises during the peak of withdrawal symptoms, which can make the life of the affected individual a living hell.
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Decreases the risk of HIV and hepatitis transmission
There is an increased risk of HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and hepatitis among substance abusers. They lose their cognitive senses (including common sense) and often dwell in unprotected coitus as a result, which makes it easier for transmission of things like HIV and hepatitis among users. With the introduction of MAT, the risk of HIV and hepatitis is significantly decreased.
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Decreases the risk of the onset of harmful mental conditions
When substance abuse has been going on for a long time and is left untreated, there is an increased risk of mental conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis coming into motion for the abuser (Raju, 2022). They can either come with their onset or can be exacerbated by substance abuse.
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Prevents criminal activity
Substance abusers are likely to participate in criminal activities which usually start due to desperation created by substance abuse itself. Substance abusers are frequently not able to keep their jobs or education if they start early. Therefore, they resort to criminal activities (which start from behavior such as stealing) to carry on with and fund their substance abuse problem.
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Improves maternal and fetal outcomes for pregnant or breastfeeding women who were under the influence
Another one of the greatest benefits of medication-assisted treatment is that it gives a baby who is at the fetal or breastfeeding stage, a fighting chance to survive the complications brought on by its mother’s substance abuse problem, provided she was treated by MAT in a timely manner.
What Are The Medications Used In MAT?
These medicated assisted treatments usually revolve around these medications as they are the only ones that are approved FDA to treat something like substance abuse disorder: methadone, buprenorphine (i.e., Suboxone), and extended-release naltrexone (i.e., Vivitrol). As per the World Health Organization (WHO), an international and leading authority on health-related issues, buprenorphine, and methadone are the most essential ones that are predominantly used in most MATs.
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Conclusion
For your convenience, all of the benefits of medication-assisted treatment have been mentioned in the list above and these are precisely the reasons that you or your loved one should go for something medically assisted treatment. If you are looking for treatment like MAT or alternative ones like psychotherapy or telepsychiatry to treat SAD or something like ADHD, PTSD, or insomnia then you should contact Solid Foundation Psychiatry.