Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program in Northern California

An introduction to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Our program is a highly respected and comprehensive treatment option for individuals whose goal is to achieve sustained sobriety. Our services are geared toward helping individuals create and sustain productive and meaningful lifestyles that are free from substance abuse.

Our approach and philosophy are based upon our belief that substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders are challenging conditions that can cause many difficulties in the lives of individuals and their families. Due to this complexity, we utilize an integration of the most widely accepted evidence-based models of treatment.

Medication-assisted treatment, one of the invaluable types of treatment Duffy’s is proud to offer, is one of the most effective and life-changing forms of care in helping adult men and women overcome the compulsion to engage in substance abuse. Designed specifically for the treatment of alcohol and opioid addictions, medication-assisted treatment includes both specific medications and therapeutic interventions that are designed to:

• Assist men and women in focusing on their healing and recovery without being saddled with overpowering cravings and uncomfortable physical symptoms of withdrawal
• Help those who are addicted to opioids to understand and process what led them to abuse drugs such as heroin or prescription painkillers in the first place
• Help individuals develop the skills and confidence needed to hold true to their treatment and recovery goals
• Reduce the risk of relapse

Eligibility: Guests will be assessed by an admissions counselor and reviewed by our medical director for approval.

What is Suboxone?

Comprised of buprenorphine and naloxone, Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication that has helped numerous individuals break free from the grips of opioid addiction. Similar to methadone and Subutex, Suboxone helps to alleviate the physical symptoms of withdrawal and decrease cravings for continued opioid use. Additionally, if an individual attempts to abuse opioids such as heroin or prescription painkillers while taking Suboxone, they will experience adverse results because naloxone counteracts the effects that opioids have on the brain. Suboxone is also often used as a long-term medication option after an individual begins treatmentwith Subutex.

What is Vivitrol?

Vivitrol has been approved by the FDA since 2010 for use in programs that treat opioid addiction. This naltrexone-based medication is administered only once each month and wards off opiate cravings, helps people remain in treatment, and prevents relapse from occurring. This medication is extremely effective in helping adult men and women defeat addictions to opioids, and it has a proven track record of preventing individuals in recovery from experiencing relapse.

What is Subutex?

Since 2002 when it was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use within medication-assisted treatment programs, Subutex has been an excellent medication option for those who wish to live opioid-free lives. A partial opioid agonist-antagonist that contains buprenorphine, Subutex is often prescribed to individuals at the start of treatment, with the goal of transitioning the individual to Suboxone for long-term maintenance. Like methadone, Subutex blocks opioid cravings and physical withdrawal symptoms with little to no risk.

Why is counseling or therapy an important tool in the treatment process?

Medications alone are not sufficient to get one’s life back from a substance use disorders. All three MAT medications require simultaneous and strong psychosocial support. This can be 12 step groups, one-on-one counseling, group therapy, and an individual support network. At Duffy’s, we pride ourselves on starting that support properly. Our highly trained clinicians set our MAT clients up for success by augmenting the medication’s anti-craving properties with the necessary behavioral tools for lasting sobriety.

Eligibility & expectations when entering the MAT program

Eligibility for the program includes:

All prospective guests will be assessed by an admissions counselor and reviewed by our medical director for approval.

Expectations:

It’s imperative that the client understands what buprenorphine can and can’t do. There is no magic bullet for opioid dependence. Buprenorphine can dramatically assist opioid-dependent persons, but other interventions such as motivational interviewing and group/individual behavioral counseling will be used as well. It’s important to understand that recovery, whether maintained via MAT or not, is a lifelong process. This dual approach to treatment is supported by medical and behavioral health groups, including the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the National Council for Behavioral Health.