Medication Assisted Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
Quality & Affordable Medication- Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Wisconsin
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 130 people die every day from opioid drug overdoses and 10.3 million people misused prescription opioids in 2018. Help is needed now than ever before and this is why it’s critical for individuals struggling with addiction to have access to affordable medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Medication-Assisted Treatment or MAT is the current government-recommended standard in opioid dependence treatment and combines medication with counseling and other types of behavioral therapies. MAT is primarily used for the treatment of addiction to opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relievers that contain opiates.
Iris Health Clinic (IHC) is a leading provider of MAT in Wisconsin. Located in Waukesha and Milwaukee, our affordable MAT program offers comprehensive, evidence-based care, along with access to residential addiction treatment for those who need a more structured recovery environment. We’re committed to helping individuals heal from opioid addiction with proven approaches.
Addiction affects everyone differently, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has been shown to be effective for many. These medications work by targeting the brain’s opioid receptors, helping to ease the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that come with withdrawal.
Medication-assisted treatment helps with these withdrawal symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Chills
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Cramps
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Joint Pain
FDA Approved Medications for Opioid Addiction
MAT offers a safe treatment option for those struggling with opioid addiction. FDA-approved medications help ease the symptoms associated with withdrawal and curb drug cravings. They include:
Methadone
This drug is one of the most well-known and highly-regulated medications used during treatment for opioid addiction since it’s a full agonist. This means the drug combines with receptors in the brain and nervous system to produce the desired effect of lessening painful symptoms of opioid withdrawal. It also blocks the euphoric effects of an opiate drug. When Methadone is administered correctly, the patient feels normal and does not physically crave opiates or cause the person to be lethargic. It’s given once a day via a liquid solution.
Suboxone (Buprenorphine)
FDA approved Suboxone is a partial agonist, meaning it doesn’t fully bind to opiate receptors. The combination of buprenorphine and naloxone is effective for treating opioid withdrawal since it alleviates the physical symptoms, thus decreasing opioid cravings. If the person attempts to use the opioids while taking Suboxone, they will experience adverse effects; this is because naloxone counteracts the effects that opioids have on the brain.
Vivitrol
This is an injectable medication designed to curb cravings for an extended period. It’s administered once a month during a medication-assisted treatment program. It helps stave off opioid cravings, eliminates physical symptoms of withdrawal, and prevents overdosing. The person taking the drug needs to abstain from any opiate for fourteen days before the first injection.
What are the Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment?
IHC’s MAT program offers many benefits for participants. For example, individuals:
- Normalize their brain chemistry while blocking the effects of opioids and alcohol
- Relieve cravings and normalize the body without experiencing the negative effects of opioid use and withdrawal
- Relieve cravings and normalize the body without experiencing the negative effects of opioid use and withdrawal
- Receive an individually tailored program of medication and behavioral therapy to successfully treat their addiction and maintain long-term recovery
- Improve their chances of staying in treatment
- Decrease illicit opiate use and other common drug-related criminal activity
- Increase their ability to gain and maintain employment
- Reduce the need for inpatient detoxification services
- Receive the support needed to live a satisfactory life in recovery
Our Integrated and Evidence-Based Treatment Approach
IHC’s approach to Medication-Assisted Treatment is integrated, meaning our programs combine the use of multiple treatment services in order to offer real recovery solutions to person’s seeking to transform their overall health and well-being. Clients will work closely with our qualified staff to develop a customized treatment plan to decide which of our treatment modalities will work best for them.
Iris Health Clinic’s MAT Treatment Services Include:
- Job Assistance and Support
- Motivational Interviewing
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy
- Outpatient Treatment
- Peer Recovery Support Services
- Psychodrama
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Residential Treatment
Confidentiality
We understand that seeking treatment is not easy and the last thing a person needs is to fear is that they will be exposed by treatment staff for doing so. Fortunately, the strict rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) are designed to protect patient confidentiality. We respect these rules and we follow them. Plus, many of our leadership are in recovery and many of our family members, so we know first hand the need to seek treatment for ourselves and our loved ones privately.
Iris Health Clinic is Covered by Most Wisconsin Insurances, including Medicaid
Iris Health Clinic is covered by most insurances, including Medicare, United Health Care, UMR, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem, Aetna, Quartz, Forest County Potawatomi, WEA Trust, Cigna, Humana, Exceedent, WPS, and Sanford.
Make a change for yourself, your loved one, or your client today. We’re here for you, always.