Nexus Family Recovery Center believes that prevention and education go hand in hand. During Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we want to spotlight our Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program.
What is Medication Assisted Treatment?
MAT is the use of FDA-approved medications that help normalize brain chemistry, blocks the euphoric effects of opioids, relieves physiological cravings, and restores normal body functions. At Nexus, MAT is accompanied by group and individual counseling sessions.
Why is MAT an important recovery tool?
Women recoverying from opioid use disorder can have a hard time focusing on recovery because of their body’s physical pain response and cravings. With MAT, they can focus on healing and start their recovery process.
“MAT is a big prevention tool. If people who have opioid use disorder don’t get on a medication, there’s a 95% rate of their returning to use. It’s a really difficult disease because there’s so much bodily stuff involved with the brain, and their ability to live their life fully without white-knuckling it or without having using dreams or cravings. This medication takes it all away. It’s a great recovery protection tool.”
-Sheri Vaden, MAT Counselor
Debunking the Stigma
One of the greatest barriers to MAT is the stigma and misconception that it’s trading one drug for another. This is false. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a disease. Just how a person with diabetes uses insulin to manage their health, a woman in recovery uses MAT to manage her SUD. MAT reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings and can help provide a much needed foundation during her recovery.