Los Angeles Medication-Assisted Treatment

In many cases, willpower alone isn’t enough to help people detox from their substance of choice. People often need pharmacological support to get them through. Unfortunately, there aren’t FDA-approved medications that treat the withdrawal of many substances. When it comes to opioid addiction, however, there are a variety of options for medication-assisted treatment.

Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, can be controversial. Many people think that these medications are merely replacing one addictive substance for another. They believe that a medication-assisted treatment program simply masks the problem, rather than treating it.

MAT can be beneficial for many people battling opioid addiction. Withdrawal symptoms are one of the leading causes of relapse. Many want to stop using, but can’t withstand the unpleasant symptoms once they stop using. MAT medications help reduce cravings and mitigate withdrawal symptoms, decreasing the risk for relapse.

Grace Recovery is dedicated to providing options for medication assisted treatment to residents while in detox. These addiction treatment medications both help relieve opioid withdrawal, but they do so in different ways.

The most popular brand name for the combination of buprenorphine and naloxone is Suboxone. This medication acts as a replacement for the opioids a person was taking. We offer this medication during detox only, as it does provide a small high and as such has abuse potential. Suboxone helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, allowing clients to begin to focus on their recovery. Clients then taper off the medication as they transition into the next phase of their treatment plan.

Naltrexone is also known by its brand name, Vivitrol. As far as long-term options, Vivitrol is ideal. This medication is a monthly injection that works to block the effects of opioids as well as reduce cravings. There’s no concern for abuse with this medication, as it can’t get people high and people don’t administer it themselves. However, the only catch is that they need to be seven to ten days clean of opioids before receiving their first injection. Getting through detox can be tough, so this option isn’t ideal for some.

Which option will work best depends on your specific situation. The professionals at Grace Recovery will create an individualized treatment plan that tends to your unique needs.