Medication-Assisted Treatment – Kansas City, KS

A Step Toward Freedom

Addiction and substance abuse are complex issues, which is why they often require a multi-pronged treatment approach. Our Kansas City team fully recognizes that, so we offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help individuals manage withdrawal symptoms and take major steps toward freedom. We carefully prescribe and administer these medications with the goal of helping patients finally break away from substance abuse and the many challenges it can cause. Continue reading below to learn more about MAT and how it might be able to benefit you.

What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Simply put, MAT uses prescription medications to help individuals break free from addiction to opioids and alcohol. It is often a valuable complement to talk therapy and other forms of support.

The medications used in MAT may:

  • Produce a mild euphoric effect that is similar to (but much weaker) than that caused by stronger opioids and narcotics. It helps to reduce cravings and may help individuals to wean themselves off of harder drugs.
  • Bind and block certain receptors in the brain, which reduces the intoxicating/euphoric effects of addictive substances. These medications also work within the brain to reduce cravings.

How Does MAT Work?

Before we can prescribe any medications, we need to get to know a little about you, your circumstances, and your health. From there, we can start putting together a treatment plan.

We may prescribe pills for you, but there is also the option for you to visit us periodically to receive a slow-releasing injectable form of your prescribed medication. You may be able to continue taking medication as long as it is playing a valuable role in helping you avoid using opioids or alcohol.

Here are a few examples of the medications that we often prescribe:

  • This is a partial opioid agonist, which means that it creates a mild euphoric effect that allows patients to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. It is a key component of several of the treatments we offer.
  • This is a daily pill that blocks receptors in the brain, which can reduce satisfaction from substance abuse and result in more manageable carvings.

Visit this page to learn more about the medications we offer.

What Are the Benefits of MAT?

Some of the most outstanding benefits of MAT include:

  • It can significantly reduce the risk of fatal overdose.
  • It eases the physical symptoms of withdrawal from addictive substances.
  • It is an effective complement for behavioral therapy.
  • It can play a role in normalizing the body’s chemistry.
  • MAT is generally very safe when the medications are used as prescribed. In fact, patient safety is our top priority!
  • MAT is significantly more effective at reducing opioid use than drug-free approaches to addiction treatment.

Start Your Substance Abuse Treatment Soon

Substance abuse can have detrimental effects on virtually every aspect of your life. The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you can get back to thriving! Our compassionate team is ready to assess your case and get you on the road to recovery. To learn more about us and our services, contact our office near Kansas City at 913-713-1238.