MEDICATION-ASSISTED THERAPY Using medication to treat opioid addiction is a strategy that has been around for a long time, but is still widely underused. In fact, less than 50% of pri- vately-funded substance use disorder treatment programs offer MAT. THE OPTIONS There are three types of medication used to treat opioid addiction: metha- done, buprenorphine and naltrexone. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, methadone and buprenorphine “both activate opioid receptors in the body that suppress cravings and are ef- fective and similar in safety and side effects, and typically used for mainte- nance treatment.” Naltrexone, however, is used to block out the euphoric/seda- tive sensations caused by opioids. Due to these differences, methadone and buprenorphine are known as opioid agonists, while Naltrexone is consid- ered an opioid antagonist. Methadone and buprenorphine are taken in the form of a pill. Naltrexone, which can also be used to treat alcohol addic- tion, was originally only approved to be taken orally in the form of a pill, but now is offered in the form of a monthly injection as well. Buprenorphine can be taken alone or in combination with Naltrexone. In order for Naltrexone to be effective, the body must be free of the addictive substance. EFFECTIVENESS According to the National Institute on
“Abundant evidence shows that ... they reduce the risk of infectious disease trans- mission as well as criminal behavior associated with drug use” Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Abundant evidence shows that methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone all reduce opioid use and opioid use disorder-related symp- toms, and they reduce the risk of infec- tious disease transmission as well as criminal behavior associated with drug use” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the U.S department of Health states that, “MAT has proved to be clinically effec- tive and to significantly reduce inpatient detoxification services.” Research has also shown that these medications may contribute to lowering a person’s risk of contracting HIV and Hepatitis C by reducing the risk of a relapse. While MAT has been proven effective for most patients, the effectiveness of the treatment depends on the patient as well as severity of the disorder. When addiction is paired with other challenges such as mental illness, it is still highly beneficial for the patient to seek help from a therapist along with taking these medications.
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