MAT stands for Medication-Assisted Treatment, which is a combination of FDA-approved medications and therapeutic methods used to safely and effectively treat substance use disorders. Psychiatry Unplugged’s approach seeks to heal the whole patient—mind, body, and spirit—by first addressing physical dependence. Once cravings and the threat of withdrawal have been removed from the equation, patients have the ability to begin doing the heavy lifting of recovery. MAT is a new advancement in the treatment of substance use disorders. These treatments aim to restore the normal biology of the brain and body, specifically in terms of thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and chronic pain.

MAT programs are commonly used for the treatment of opioid use disorders, including heroin and all prescription pain medications that contain opiates. To help patients overcome their addictive tendencies, the therapy portion of treatment includes counseling and various forms of behavioral therapy. The medication portion of MAT is designed to block the euphoric effect of opioids, relieve physiological and psychological cravings, and normalize brain chemistry and other bodily functions. It does this without the negative effects caused by illicit drugs, typically with medications that have similar effects on the brain. There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat opioid dependencies, such as methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone.

The goal of medication-assisted treatment is to restore normalcy to one’s life. It is not normal to obsess about drugs, feel depressed without them or continue to use them even when it is clearly causing harm to the body and mind. These medications are useful for both detox and preventing relapse. Medication use is combined with psychotherapy/support groups and lifestyle changes to improve an individual’s social function. At Psychiatry Unplugged, we emphasize this bio-psycho-social approach. This comprehensive treatment model leaves nothing on the table. We do not manage pieces of you. We help restore you back to you, to an even better and healthier you.

The biggest benefit of MAT is to attain full recovery, including the ability to live a self-directed life. This treatment approach is proven to:

– Improve patient survival
– Increase retention in treatment
– Decrease the use of illicit substances and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders
– Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment and other forms of productivity
– Improve birth outcomes among pregnant women with substance use disorders

At Psychiatry Unplugged, our board-certified addiction medicine doctors are dedicated to helping you on the road to recovery, so you can live a more fulfilling quality of life. Our medication-assisted treatments are proven to help individuals recover faster and more effectively while minimizing the adverse effects of withdrawal. Call us today or book an appointment, or visit our clinic conveniently located in Los Angeles CA, and Glendale CA. We serve patients from Los Angeles CA, Glendale CA, Beverly Hills CA, Santa Monica CA, Hollywood CA, Burbank CA, and Pasadena CA. We look forward to serving you!