Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) Programs in Princeton | Quantum Behavioral Health

MAT Addiction Treatment in Princeton

Medically assisted treatment (MAT) programs are detox programs that are designed to help people who are quitting drugs or alcohol but may run into serious medical or health complications if they were to quit the substance suddenly or may experience severe drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms due to severe addiction to substances like opioid drugs, alcohol or benzodiazepines. Mixing drugs and alcohol, long-term substance abuse, and binge drinking can also make quitting more difficult. A medication-assisted treatment plan will help patients overcome addiction and stay on their journey to long-term sobriety.

Quitting substances cold turkey is almost never recommended, and you should never attempt to quit using substances you are addicted to without medical supervision. A fully integrated MAT treatment plan will incorporate medical care and prescription medications into your treatment to ensure you remain safe and stay healthy as your body and brain chemistry rebalances and you get used to not having these substances in your system.

Having difficulty quitting when you have a substance use disorder does not mean you are weak or are not trying hard enough. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is not simply a choice, it is often a complex disorder that comes about because of underlying and co-occurring issues like:

• Mental health disorders
• Social pressure and lack of education around substance abuse
• Exposure to trauma
• Being around substance abuse at a young age
• Trying to mask emotional issues
• Trying to escape difficult life situations
• Lack of health care opportunities in your area

Drug and alcohol use can cause changes to your brain and the way you are wired to think and behave, and over time, these issues can develop into addiction, which may not be reversible. This means that you will have to learn new ways of thinking, acting, and ways of life that will build a healthy lifestyle and help you avoid relapse after quitting. It is not easy, especially when you are chemically dependent on a substance, but with help from a team of dedicated treatment professionals and a lot of patience and perseverance, you can move forward in your life, living drug and alcohol free.

Most drug and alcohol detox programs take place in a residential treatment center, or inpatient rehab, so you will be living inside a completely sober and safe facility, in a comfortable bed, with 24-hour care and medical supervision provided. This is so that if any medical issues like seizures, digestive problems, organ failure, delirium tremens, etc. come up, you will have immediate help and treatment. Staying inside a rehab facility will also take away any temptations you may have to relapse when things become difficult. Detoxing often comes with painful, uncomfortable, and distressing withdrawal symptoms, and if you detox at home you may be tempted to take the drug or drink again just to make it stop. In a MAT program, you will be provided with medications that will stop drug cravings and ensure you do not suffer as you detox and rehabilitate, thereby helping you avoid relapse.

What Is MAT?

Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is a type of whole-patient approach to quitting drugs and alcohol. It Is integrative and comprehensive, meaning you will not only have help getting through the physical discomfort associated with detox and rehabilitation, but you will also have behavioral therapy, holistic treatments, psychiatric and mental health care, relapse prevention programs, life skills programs, and more.

MAT treatments provide FDA-approved medications to help patients quitting substances like prescription painkillers and other opioid drugs, benzos, and alcohol avoid withdrawal symptoms like:

• Flu-like symptoms including fevers, chills, and sweating
• Stomach issues like vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea
• Difficulty sleeping and nightmares
• Tremors
• Headaches, joint aches, and muscle and bone pain
• Fatigue
• Drug cravings that feel impossible to ignore
• You may also experience more serious issues in some cases including:
• Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
• Anxiety and agitation
• Depression with suicidal ideation
• Seizures
• Delirium tremens

Medication-assisted treatments also include dual diagnosis treatments when needed. This is mental health care provided to people who have a co-occurring disorder along with their substance use disorder like:

• Bipolar disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Major depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Mood disorders
• Panic disorder
• Borderline personality disorder

MAT programs are longer-term programs than general detox, helping patients to slowly taper off their dosage of drugs over time, through replacement medications or a slowly lowered dose provided on a strict schedule created by experienced doctors. These medications have been developed to either:

• Mimic the effects of the drug you are quitting
• Stop the drug from working in your body
• Help you avoid the pain and discomfort associated with quitting

This will allow you to live your life and continue your inpatient and outpatient rehab program with a clear head and with a lower risk of relapsing, as you will no longer be experiencing withdrawal symptoms and you will be in a program that provides new strategies, skills, and tools that will help you live a healthier sober lifestyle. Each person’s MAT treatments are customized to their unique needs, and to the drug they are quitting. You will also likely have access to supportive doctors and nurses, therapists and counselors, and holistic practitioners who will keep you safe, comfortable, and teach you how to more into long-term recovery.

Once you have completed your medically-assisted treatment program, you will not be left on your own. In fact, most MAT programs are integrated into a full continuum of care that includes detox, residential treatment, outpatient rehab, and aftercare programs that can last a lifetime. Detoxing is only the first step to a life-long recovery, and after you taper off the substances you will have plenty of opportunities to stay connected to sober support groups, alumni programs, and other peer support and care options.

What To Expect During MAT?

During medication-assisted treatment (MAT), most patients live inside a sober residential rehab center, at least until they are medically stable enough to begin their rehabilitation program. During your initial detox, you will have 24-hour staff available to you to ensure you always have somebody there to assist you. Even if you just need to talk, there will be staff on duty day and night in the detox center to ensure you are not alone during this difficult time. Nursing staff and other care providers will check in frequently, and will ensure you are not suffering by providing medications as well as other treatments. Depending on the facility, you may have holistic treatments like detox massage or acupuncture, while others may provide group therapy and counseling during this time to assist you as you deal with difficult thoughts and emotions that often come up.

All staff in the detox and rehab center will be accredited, educated, and/or licensed, ensuring your safety, as well as a high quality and guaranteed effectiveness of care. Trauma-informed methods are used in rehab facilities, under the assumption that most people who are dealing with addiction have, at one point or another in their lives, experienced trauma, whether it be witnessing overdose, losing a loved one, experiencing violence, having bad medical experiences, having trouble with the law, or any other distressing or shocking event. Trauma-informed practitioners will take care not to re-traumatize you by ensuring you know at all times that you are physically and emotionally safe. They will answer all questions honestly, ask for permission before any treatments, and ensure you are a collaborator in your own care.

MAT programs include FDA-approved medications given on a long-term medication management schedule. You will return to the treatment center for these medications on a set timeline for weeks or months after deciding to quit, getting a precise, doctor-prescribed amount of medication that will slowly be lessened as time goes on. This will give your body time to adjust to the lack of the drug in your system without going into shock or producing other dangerous symptoms. During this time, it will be recommended for you to continue in a rehab treatment program, with inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab options (intensive outpatient program, partial hospitalization program, customized outpatient treatment, aftercare programs, etc.). You may wish to move into a sober living home while in MAT, join 12-step groups, or become involved with alumni groups to improve your chances of avoiding relapse.

Why Choose Quantum Behavioral Health for Medically Assisted Treatment for Addiction

Quantum Behavioral Health is an outpatient treatment center with medication management services for people who are in a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program. Our programs will provide you with the ongoing therapy, support, and care you will need to continue on your sobriety journey, with levels of care that include:

• Partial Care (PC): 20 hours/week minimum, provided during the day
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): 9 hours/week minimum, provided in the mornings or evenings
• Outpatient Program (OP) – fewer than 9 hours/week of outpatient treatments on a self-directed schedule

Treatments offered in these programs include:

• Evidence-based one-on-one and behavioral therapy
• Group therapy
• Physical health care
• Meditation and yoga
• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous
• Dual diagnosis for co-occurring disorders
• Relapse prevention strategies
• Medication management including Vivitrol treatments for alcohol rehab

Our staff are caring and non-judgmental professionals who will put your needs as an individual first. We believe that by using a combination of evidence-based treatments with holistic care, our patients will be better able to heal as a whole person, with a better overall chance of overcoming addiction. Our facility is welcoming and secure, and we encourage family involvement. Please contact us today to learn more about MAT programs and how we can help you begin our streamlined admissions process and get the help you need.