Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-Assisted Treatment is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.
Research shows that when treating substance-use disorders, a combination of medication and behavioral therapies is most successful. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is clinically driven with a focus on individualized patient care.
When prescribed and monitored properly, MAT has proven to be effective in helping patients recover. Moreover, they have been shown to be safe and cost-effective and to reduce the risk of overdose.


Program Goals:
- To treat opioid dependence
- To prevent relapse to opioid dependence, after detoxification
- To effectively treat individuals through personal assessment and evidence-based counseling
- To effectively treat individuals through Suboxone, Subutex or Naltrexone oral prescriptions, or Vivitrol injections
- To counsel individuals on the risks and benefits of the program
Phases of Treatment:
Admission/Induction
A licensed professional administers the following:
- Global Assessment Functioning (GAF)
- Addiction Severity Index (ASI) or Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM)
- Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS)
First appointment with medical doctor—client will be in withdrawal. Doctor discusses administration of medication and follow-up appointments.
Stabilization Period
Phase I
- Meet with medical doctor 1x per week
- Meet with the agency’s MAT group and attend Intensive Outpatient Counseling (IOP) three times a week, or, if employed, attend Substance Abuse Treatment (SATP) sessions weekly
- Submit urine for drug screening: 1x per week, random, must test within 24 hours of call
- Outside support meetings (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous)
- Obtain qualified sponsor
- Individual counseling is available but not required
- Family or Support Therapy with client present (2 sessions)
- Medication: Decrease initial dose by 25%
- Education/Employment — look for employment or educational opportunities
- Legal: Satisfy all pending legal issues, incur no new legal charges
- Maintain 90 days of continuous sobriety
- Take medication as prescribed, with random pill counts
Phase II
- Meet with medical doctor once every two weeks
- Meet with MAT group once every two weeks
- Drug screens: 2x per month, random, must test within 24 hours of call
- Outside support meetings 2x per week
- Work 12 steps with sponsor
- Individual counseling available, but not required
- Family or Support therapy with client present, 2 sessions minimum
- Medication: Decrease initial dosage by 50%
- Education/Employment: Look for employment
- Housing: Look for stable housing
- Legal: Satisfy all pending legal issues and incur no new legal charges
- Maintain one year of continuous sobriety
- Take medication as prescribed, with random pill counts
Phase III
- Meet with doctor 1x per month
- Meet with MAT group 1x per month
- Drug screens: Monthly, random, must test within 24 hours of call
- Outside support meetings 2x per week
- Continue to work steps with sponsor
- Individual counseling required 1x per month for the first 6 months of Phase III
- Family or Support therapy with client present — as needed
- Medication: Decrease when ready
- Employment: Must be gainfully employed or attending college/trade school
- Housing: Must maintain stable housing
- Legal: No new legal charges
- Maintain sobriety
- Take medication as prescribed, with random pill counts
Strikes
Four strikes = suspension. A client will receive strikes for the following:
- Admission of drug or alcohol use
- Not attending group
- Not attending the required number of AA or NA meetings and submitting signed proof of attendance paperwork
- Failure to submit urine for screening
Program Suspension
30-day suspension, tapering dose is prescribed for:
- Lying: Claiming not to have used any drugs, but testing positive for drugs in urine drug screens
- Pill count not accurate
- Diverting medication
- OARS indicates unreported opiate or other use/drug seeking behavior
- Legal charges involving alcohol or drug use
- Repeated failure to attend appointments with doctor
- Inability to pay for medication and/or treatment
Eligibility
Eligibility for opioid treatment is determined by a mandatory clinical/medical assessment, which is conducted as part of the admission process.
Fees are assessed on a sliding scale, and Medicaid and most insurances are accepted.