Jim V.
Medication-assisted detoxification, also known as medication-assisted treatment or MAT, uses FDA-approved prescriptions to help you through the withdrawal process from drugs and alcohol. MAT is done under the supervision of a licensed doctor or medical professional.
With nearly 8% of Californians struggling with substance use disorders from methamphetamine, alcohol, opioids, and designer synthetic drugs (MDMA, for example), medication-assisted treatment has become an important part of the recovery process.
Medication-assisted detox is using FDA-approved medications in combination with counseling and other therapies to treat substance use disorders.
It is one of the cornerstones of drug and alcohol treatments at Cornerstone of Southern California. We have been helping people who struggle with substance use disorders since the 1980s.
Short answer: Yes.
Our evidence-based medication-assisted treatment programs have helped thousands of people avoid the uncomfortable, painful, and life-threatening side effects of withdrawal from alcoholism and drug use.
The next two sections will explain how MAT programs work.
Think back to when you first started using drugs or alcohol. You used much less than you do today, and over time, you’ve had to increase your self-dosage and might even combine one substance with another, in order to feel the same level of high.
As our bodies get used to drugs and alcohol it is common to build a tolerance. Your body has adjusted its chemistry to depend on those substances, so if you suddenly stop feeding it, it can be a life-threatening shock to your system.
So, when you give up drugs and alcohol, your body needs to gradually adjust to an alcohol-free or drug-free state. Medication-assisted therapies help with that.
There are two very important reasons that we prescribe FDA-approved medication-assisted treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
Symptoms vary from person to person and depend on a number of factors including what substance they’ve used; if they’ve combined the substances with anything else, and how much they’ve used. Symptoms also are affected by age, genetics, and other risk factors including your overall health.
You will meet with the doctors and health care providers on your team, and they will do a complete history and physical. Based on your history, overall health, age, and other factors, they will prescribe FDA-approved medications to help you through the withdrawal process.
Your doctor will prescribe one or a combination of medications to be administered:
The FDA has approved medications for the treatment of cravings and withdrawal symptoms. For example, the generic drugs buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone (brand name Vivitrol) may be prescribed to ease the symptoms of opioid withdrawal and curb drug cravings.
In conjunction with your MAT, your doctor and recovery team will recommend other therapies and treatments as well, which may include individual and group therapy, nutrition and diet counseling, exercise, and other therapies — hence the name medication-assisted treatment.
MAT is designed to ease withdrawal symptoms so you and your recovery team can work on the deeper reasons behind your substance use and help you identify triggers and develop strategies to cope with temptation and prevent relapse.
As you transition from an in-patient to an out-patient program, your team will continue to monitor and adjust the doses for your MAT.
If you have questions about the specific medications, their generic names, or brands, speak to one of our addiction and recovery specialists. They are standing by to answer your questions and address your concerns.
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Alcohol dependence is the most widely reported substance use disorder in California. The California Health Care Foundation estimates that about 6% of Californians are dependent on alcohol and 3% on drugs.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms range from mild to moderate to severe. Severe symptoms include seizures and delirium tremens, which kill about 1 in 20 who suffer from severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, according to Drugs.com. Some doctors may prescribe anti-seizure medications.
Alcohol withdrawal medication may include (some may or may not be part of Cornerstone’s physicians’ treatment plans):
Anti-seizure medications or Anticonvulsants may be used in rare cases when a patient is suffering from seizures caused by alcohol withdrawal. It’s best to discuss your questions and concerns with your doctor before undergoing treatment.
Methadone is one of the oldest and best-known heroin withdrawal medications. It is also used for opioid substance use disorders. It must be administered under the supervision and care of a doctor or licensed medical practitioner. It works by helping to block the euphoric effects produced by opioids and other drugs and reducing cravings.
Methadone can be given as part of an in-patient recovery program, or it may be dosed through an out-patient methadone clinic setting. Common questions (and answers) about methadone:
Buprenorphine is the generic name for a drug that is used to help with medically assisted treatments. It is sold under the brand Suboxone. It can help alleviate the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that arise when someone stops using opioids.
Naltrexone is a monthly injected drug that is administered after someone has stopped using for two weeks. It helps to prevent cravings and reduce side effects, as well as prevent overdoses.
You may have heard of the medication Naloxone, which has been used in emergency situations to diagnose and treat people who have overdosed on opioids and fentanyl. It has been known to save the lives of people who may have overdosed on opioids. It should be administered only by a doctor or medical practitioner who is licensed to prescribe this class of medication.
If you are dependent on “benzos” or benzodiazepine drugs such as Valium, Tranxene, Xanax, Halcion, Librium, or Ativan, your doctor may prescribe medications that are specifically designed to help with the withdrawal symptoms from these drugs.
These medications have a variety of prescribed uses, including treating anxiety and depression, sleep disorders, seizure disorders, and muscle relaxation. They can also be used for anesthesia.
When someone has become addicted to a benzo drug, their treating physician may recommend medications to treat seizures or severe depression. These could include clonazepam or clonidine.
If you live in Southern California or are seeking help with your addiction in Orange or Los Angeles counties, Cornerstone has been a strong presence in the recovery community for more than 30 years.
Our medication-assisted treatment and evidence-based practice have helped thousands of people like you or your loved one get safely through the detoxification process and live long lives free from alcohol and drugs. Talk to us about medically assisted alcohol treatment, medically assisted opioid treatment, and other questions you have about drug rehab medication.
Recovery starts with a phone call to (714) 547-5375 or by sending us an email. We are available 24 hours a day, and your conversation with us will be held in confidence.
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