Treating Your Opioid Addiction With Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

According to the FDA, more than 6 million people are likely living with opioid use disorder, some as young as 12. With this staggering number of addictions, a comprehensive treatment plan had to be developed that included medications to help overcome opioid addiction.

A medication-assisted treatment program includes one of three FDA-approved medications: buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone. At the Victory Treatment Program in Knoxville, Tennessee, Stacey Maltman, FNP-BC, provides Vivitrol for patients with an opioid addiction.

Stacey is an accomplished and experienced addiction specialist, providing patients in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area a chance to regain their lives from opioids and alcohol successfully. Along with medication-assisted treatment, the Victory Treatment Program provides support groups, IV therapy, and outpatient detoxification.

Understanding medication-assisted treatment

Opioid addiction is a spreading epidemic that affects people of all ages, and it's tough to recover from. However, it's easier to overcome opioid use disorder (OUD) through a monitored medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program.

The FDA has approved three medications to help with OUD, including naltrexone. At Victory Treatment Program, we use Vivitrol in our MAT program because it's effective and non-narcotic.

Vivitrol is an injectable form of naltrexone that helps people safely recover from OUD without all the side effects of buprenorphine and methadone. We recommend starting a MAT program when you're off of opioids or alcohol, as the medication interacts with them while they're actively in your system.

At your MAT appointments, a team member injects the medication into your buttock. It lasts for a month, during which time it allows you to reduce cravings and stay sober. We also suggest support groups, regular check-ins, and counseling to give you the best opportunity to beat OUD.

Vivitrol for opioid use disorder

Vivitrol is our medication of choice for MAT for many reasons. First, it's non-narcotic, so you don't have to worry about relapsing due to low levels of opioids in your system.

It's also not addictive, and when you stop using it, you don't have to worry about dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Vivitrol blocks the effects of opioids by binding to the receptors in the brain.

Another mechanism of action is how it suppresses cravings from opioids as you recover from OUD. With counseling, support groups, and regular meetings, Vivitrol can help people successfully recover from OUD without the side effects and potential relapse of other medications.

Before starting Vivitrol, you must be at least seven days clean from short-acting opioids and 10 to 14 days clean from longer-acting ones. It ensures that you don't have any adverse reactions from the medication interacting with the opioids in your system.

How does Vivitrol help me detox from drugs?

Vivitrol works for OUD by suppressing the need to get high from opioids. It binds to the opioid receptors in the brain and blocks any positive feeling related to the use of opioid drugs.

With the proper MAT program, Vivitrol controls cravings while allowing you to work through opioid addiction for a better outcome than detoxing without medications.

What else should I know about MAT?

The MAT program at Victory Treatment Program is a proven and safe way to recover from opioid addiction and get your life back. During treatment, you can expect to have 24-hour support and resources available to help you achieve your goal.

Being open and honest during counseling and group therapy is essential for success in the MAT program. We want to check in with you regularly to help you overcome any hurdles during recovery.

Our MAT program is a safe option even with alcohol abuse. Vivitrol is the best option for OUD simply because it's not a narcotic and allows you to reduce the need for opioids as you continue on the road to recovery.

Call the Victory Treatment Program today to schedule an appointment to discuss our medication-assisted treatment program, or you can learn more about our addiction treatments on our website.