Medication-assisted treatment is an integral part of substance use disorder programs. It allows clients to go through the detoxification process without the overwhelming and potentially deadly symptoms of withdrawal. With medication-assisted treatment (MAT), recovery can begin on the right foot.
At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®, we offer substance misuse treatment programs for adolescent boys and MAT services to help them begin the process correctly. If you’ve been asking yourself, “What is medication-assisted treatment?” and wonder how it can benefit your loved one, contact us at 828.519.5047 to learn all about what your son can expect.
What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
When someone develops a substance use disorder, they can no longer function without the substance. Alcohol and drugs cause structural changes in the brain, leading to a system-wide adaptation to the object of the misuse. If the person abruptly stops drinking or taking drugs, the body can’t stabilize itself.
This results in days and even weeks of potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. They are substance-specific but can include:
- Anxiety
- Sweating or chills
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Palpitations
- Digestive problems
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Inability to feel pleasure
- Cravings
Some substances are more dangerous to detox from than others. Alcohol, for example, can cause delirium tremens (DTs), which can lead to hallucinations and seizures.
So what is MAT, then? MAT allows your son to go through the detoxification process without experiencing these severe symptoms and helps to curb cravings throughout his recovery so that he can focus on the therapies that will assist him in remaining sober.
Benefits of MAT for Adolescent Boys
MAT drugs provide the physical stability to help teenage boys remain safe as they begin their recovery. Medication-assisted treatment for alcohol, for example, can prevent the DTs and keep your child more comfortable.
Cravings can be a serious issue for those beginning treatment. They can be powerful enough to prompt your child to begin drinking or taking drugs again, which could put them in severe danger if they’ve already begun the detox process.
They might attempt the same dosage they’re accustomed to without realizing they’ve lost their tolerance. That could put your son at risk of overdosing.
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder is particularly helpful because these two substances are often the ones with the worst withdrawal symptoms, as well as the ones that cause serious cravings. MAT ensures that your son is safe and that he can focus on therapy sessions.
How Are MAT Drugs Chosen?
When your teenager enters a treatment program that offers MAT, he will be carefully assessed to ensure that the right medications and dosages are chosen. The recovery team will get your son’s medical history and a history of his substance misuse.
Medication-assisted treatment for alcohol misuse might rely on medications like acamprosate and disulfiram, while medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder will likely include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. The dosage your son receives will usually decrease as he progresses through his recovery.
Help Your Child Get Sober at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®
What is MAT? It’s a way to help your child begin the treatment they need without requiring them to go through a difficult withdrawal process. With guidance from professionals and medications to help stave off cravings and dangerous symptoms, your child has a chance to find sobriety and stability once more.
At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®, we offer residential treatment for teenage boys with substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Our team will create a treatment plan that addresses your child’s exact needs so that he has the best chance of achieving long-term sobriety. Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® by calling 828.519.5047 or completing our convenient online contact form.
