Given the rise in the number of people becoming dependent on opioids, and the corresponding increase in overdoses, there has been a concerted effort to try and utilize medication-assisted treatment (MAT) modalities throughout the country.
MAT often includes some type of synthetic opioids such as buprenorphine or methadone, but also may include naltrexone or other medications. Sometimes these are prescribed for shorter-term use, while other times people may take these medications for many years.
There is a strong effort by federal agencies to promote the inclusion of various forms of medication-assisted treatment, yet at the same time there are many more traditional rehabilitation programs and recovery groups that are opposed to such treatments.
What is Centered Recovery’s Position on MAT?
Our official position on medication-assisted treatment is that we don’t have an official position. We would rather address situations on an individual level and see what is going to work best for each person in their recovery process, both immediately and in the future.
We definitely would prefer to see people not be dependent on medications, if possible, and to have a goal of being able to eventually not have to take them. There are some people who use drug substitutes to avoid full recovery, while there are others who do very well with MAT and credit it with saving their lives. We don’t automatically exclude someone from participating in our program if they are on one or more of these medications, but at the same time we don’t except just anyone who is, either. Program participants must want to be actively pursuing positive change with recovery goals rather than being stuck in a repeating pattern that is unhealthy.
For people who do need medication-assisted treatment, we have several local doctors and programs that we can refer you to for help and you can do our program along with their treatment concurrently.
For more information, contact us today to find out ways we can help you meet your sobriety goals.