Myths about Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): How does switching drugs constitute “recovery”?
When most people think about overcoming addiction, the phrase “cold turkey” comes to mind. Quitting a substance abruptly without the support of other medication has long been considered a moral imperative. But science has disproved the idea that sheer force of will is the most effective means of managing addition in the long term. From cravings to physiological withdrawal, the challenges of substance abuse are best addressed using a combination of strategies, which may include Medication-Assisted Treatment or MAT with Medication Titration Therapy.
An estimated 1.6 million Americans struggled with an opioid use disorder in 2019, and the same number misused prescription pain medication for the first time. Each person faces unique circumstances, and addiction treatment is far from one-size-fits-all. In combination with behavioral counseling, MAT has proven a highly effective component of individualized care, significantly reducing the chances of return to use and overdose.
Despite substantial proof of efficacy, Medication-Assisted Treatment remains an under-utilized strategy for addiction management. That’s partly because MAT can be subject to unnecessary stigma, and people may be less familiar with its many proven benefits. Patients may also find accessing and staying connected to consistent treatment another barrier. Medication-Assisted Treatment can be an invaluable tool, and it’s one strategy that Lucid Lane uses in tailoring individualized care and addressing the needs of each patient. This post will dispel a few of the most common myths about MAT.
MAT Isn’t New or Experimental
Let’s start with the substantial and well-documented history of this form of addiction treatment. The first FDA-approved medication for addiction treatment dates back to 1951, when disulfiram was introduced to manage alcoholism. Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947. Major advancements have been made in the decades since, including additional medications like buprenorphine that continue to revolutionize treatment for opioid addiction. Though the medications vary slightly in function, outcomes for MAT demonstrate substantially improved success rates across the board when compared with placebos.
People who take methadone are 4.44 times more likely to continue addiction treatment than those who don’t take medication, according to studies cited by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Those who take the recommended dose of buprenorphine were found 1.82 times more likely to stay in treatment than placebo patients. Both medications have proven to have similar success rates when prescribed in evidence-based amounts.
MAT Doesn’t Mean Swapping One Addiction for Another
Taking one drug to assist in quitting another may seem counterintuitive to some people. But MAT treatments work very differently on the body than the substances they’re meant to help patients give up. Both methadone and buprenorphine are designed to help reduce cravings and alleviate withdrawal symptoms without the euphoric effects associated with opioid use.
The risk of diversion for MAT medications, or transfer to someone for whom they were not prescribed, is substantially lower than for opioids like oxycodone. MAT medications are not often associated with recreational use. Of the small percentage who were found to have diverted buprenorphine, 90% reported they wanted to use it for its intended purpose, to lessen opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
The statistics are overwhelmingly clear: treating a drug addiction with another non-addictive drug works. Consider the following from a 2019 report by the California Health Care Foundation:
- Buprenorphine and methadone are proven to lower overdose death rates in half while decreasing illicit drug use as well as transmission of both HIV and hepatitis C. Both drugs also improve patient retention in treatment.
- Injectible extended-release naltrexone is shown to reduce illicit drug use and to increase retention in treatment in three- to six-month trials.
- Patients on MAT incur lower healthcare costs compared to patients on drug-free treatment.
- Prison system data confirm that MAT reduces deaths. Without treatment, the risk of opioid overdose death for people shortly after leaving prison is 129 times that of the general population.
MAT Is Not a Short-Term Solution
MAT isn’t just effective during a patient’s initial period of detoxification. Individualized therapeutic plans can be an essential part of achieving sustained cessation over time. Patients who use MAT for one to two years have the highest rates of long-term success, according to research cited by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Likewise, there’s currently no evidence to suggest any benefits to ceasing MAT early.
By contrast, the long-term benefits of MAT are clear. Successfully managing addiction leads to higher rates of employment, lower rates of criminality, HIV infection, and mortality rates from overdose, according to research cited by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Overall quality of life and enjoyment are known to thrive with successful addiction management.
MAT Is Not Out of Reach for Most Patients
Access to MAT and maintaining a sustained therapeutic plan is easier than people may think. Lucid Lane offers Medication-Assisted Treatment as part of its treatment plans tailored to individual patient needs. From telehealth appointments with licensed counselors to virtual support groups, Lucid Lane’s strategies for addiction management are flexible and designed to meet every patient wherever they are.
Visit us at Skyler Health, where we empower people to prevent and stop anxiety, pain, medication & substance abuse with professional, licensed, and vetted counselors that you can trust.
