MAT supports recovery with medication and therapy.

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) uses FDA-approved medications along with counseling and recovery support.
• MAT is most often used for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder.

MAT can lower symptoms that make recovery harder.

• FDA-approved medications can reduce cravings, ease withdrawal symptoms, and help lower relapse risk when they are part of a full treatment plan.
• Counseling and recovery support help people build coping skills, structure, and long-term stability.

MAT should fit the person, not the other way around.

• Individualized treatment matches MAT to the person’s diagnosis, health history, other medications, and recovery goals.
• A clinical evaluation at Denver Recovery Center helps determine whether MAT is appropriate and which approach may be the best fit.
• MAT is part of long-term recovery care. It is not a stand-alone cure.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines medication with therapy

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based form of addiction treatment that uses FDA-approved medication together with behavioral therapy and ongoing clinical support. It is most often used for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder, which are diagnosed using clinical standards such as the DSM-5-TR.

MAT is not medication-only care

Medication-only treatment focuses on the medicine by itself. MAT is broader. It places medication inside a full treatment plan that may include medical visits, behavioral therapy, progress checks, and recovery planning.

MAT works as one part of a full treatment plan

• Medication helps support brain and body stability.
• Behavioral therapy helps people change habits, build coping skills, and support daily recovery.
• The care team adjusts the plan over time based on a person’s needs.

MAT eases withdrawal and reduces cravings

Medication-assisted treatment works by calming the brain and body changes caused by substance use. Approved medications can lower withdrawal symptoms and cravings, which often drive early relapse. This early relief helps people focus on recovery instead of feeling sick or overwhelmed.

Different medications work in different ways

• Agonist medications activate the same brain receptors in a controlled way to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
• Partial agonist medications activate receptors more gently, which can reduce cravings with a lower risk of sedation or euphoria.
• Antagonist medications block receptors, so the substance cannot produce the same rewarding effect. NIDA notes this can help lower relapse risk.

Stabilization supports recovery work

Medication stabilization helps the brain recover from the neurobiology of addiction. When cravings and withdrawal symptoms are more controlled, it is easier to attend counseling, build routines, and practice coping skills. At Denver Recovery Center, MAT is used to support this steady, long-term recovery process.

Signs that may prompt a MAT evaluation

Medication-assisted treatment may help people with opioid use disorder or alcohol use disorder when use has become hard to stop, even after clear harm. At Denver Recovery Center, MAT evaluation may be considered when addiction severity is linked to repeated return to use, strong craving, or worsening daily function.

Symptoms and risks MAT may address

• Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shaking, anxiety, insomnia, muscle aches, or agitation
• Strong craving that drives continued use or early relapse
• High relapse risk after detox, short periods of abstinence, or past treatment attempts
• Functional impairment at work, school, home, or in relationships
• Loss of control, including using more than planned or being unable to cut down

When someone may be a candidate

A person may be a candidate for MAT evaluation when symptoms keep returning, withdrawal makes stopping hard, or relapse risk stays high. Clinical guidelines from SAMHSA support using medications as part of ongoing treatment for the right patients.

Research Supports Better Retention and Safer Outcomes

SAMHSA, NIDA, and the FDA recognize MAT as an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder. Research shows MAT improves treatment retention, lowers illicit opioid use, and reduces overdose risk compared with no medication.

Best Results Come With Whole-Person Care

Medication often works best when it is paired with counseling, recovery support, and regular follow-up. This combined approach can improve stability, help people stay engaged in care, and support long-term recovery at Denver Recovery Center.

Why Individualized Care Still Matters

• No single medication fits every person.
• Response can vary based on health history, other substance use, pregnancy, and recovery goals.
• Public health guidance supports matching treatment to the person and adjusting care over time.

That is why strong evidence matters, but personalized treatment planning matters too.

Assessment and Treatment Planning

Denver Recovery Center starts MAT with a clinical assessment to see if medication is a safe, good fit. The team reviews your substance use, medical history, current symptoms, past treatment, and goals. This step follows best-practice guidance from SAMHSA and the NIDA.

Medication Management and Follow-Up Care

Treatment planning includes choosing the right medication, setting a starting dose, and building a follow-up schedule. Denver Recovery Center monitors response, side effects, cravings, and dose needs over time. Medication management is adjusted as recovery progresses.

Counseling and Recovery Support

MAT works best when medication is paired with counseling and recovery support. Denver Recovery Center connects MAT patients with services that support long-term recovery, consistent with SAMHSA TIP 63.

How to Begin Care at Denver Recovery Center

• Schedule an evaluation.
• Complete your assessment and history review.
• Receive a personalized MAT treatment plan.
• Begin medication, counseling, and follow-up care.