Medication Assisted Treatment MAT/MOUD
MAT and MOUD Treatment
Effectively utilizing medications for substance use disorders requires a psychiatrist with specialty training and experience. Most psychiatrists lack this expertise. At Insight Into Action Therapy, you will receive the highest level of specialized care.
A practical, evidence-based tool for addiction recovery
When cravings, withdrawal, and relapse cycles are driving your life, “just try harder” is not a plan. MAT and MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder) uses FDA approved medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, curb cravings, and stabilize brain chemistry so you can function while you address substance use. In recent years, the preferred term MOUD has become less stigmatizing, reducing the belief that individuals in recovery are replacing one substance for another.
At Insight Into Action Therapy, MAT/MOUD is offered for opioid and alcohol use disorders as part of a medically managed, outpatient model. You keep working, parenting, and meeting your obligations while receiving structured support. Other services are available, but they are not a condition of getting medication.
What MAT/MOUD is and when it makes sense
MAT/MOUD combines three elements:
- Diagnosis of a substance use disorder
- Medications that directly target cravings and withdrawal
- Ongoing medical monitoring and adjustment
It is most often used for:
- Opioid use disorder: prescription opioids, heroin, fentanyl, synthetic opioids
- Alcohol use disorder: daily drinking, binge patterns, or repeated failed attempts to cut back
The goal is straightforward: reduce physical symptoms so you can make healthier decisions and follow through on them.
Medications we use
Your exact plan depends on history, goals, medical status, and prior treatment. Options may include:
For opioid use disorder (MOUD)
- Buprenorphine / naloxone (Suboxone and equivalents): partial opioid agonist that reduces withdrawal and cravings with lower overdose risk than full opioids
- Naltrexone (oral) or extended release injectable naltrexone (Vivitrol): opioid antagonist that blocks opioid effects and helps prevent return to use.
For alcohol use disorder (MAT)
- Naltrexone (oral or Vivitrol shot): reduces reward from drinking and helps lower heavy drinking days
- Acamprosate: supports abstinence by stabilizing glutamate / GABA activity after stopping alcohol
- Disulfiram: creates a strong physical reaction if you drink; used selectively in very specific circumstances
Medication selection is based on your substance use pattern, medical background, risk profile, and how much structure you are willing to follow
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Typical MAT/MOUD protocol at Insight Into Action Therapy
While details vary by person, a standard MAT/MOUD process usually includes:
- Initial evaluation
A focused assessment of substance use history, mental health conditions, current medications, medical issues, and prior treatment attempts. This may include labs, review of prescription monitoring data, and coordination with other providers when needed. - Induction
For MOUD, induction is the controlled start of medication to avoid precipitated withdrawal and establish a tolerable, effective dose. For alcohol MAT, we confirm safety (for example, that you are medically cleared for naltrexone or disulfiram) before starting. - Stabilization
Over the next several weeks, dose is adjusted to:
- Reduce cravings and withdrawal
- Minimize side effects
- Support consistent daily functioning
You should see change likes: fewer use episodes, less time spent obtaining or recovering from substances, and improved stability in work and home routines.
- Maintenance
Once stabilized, appointments become more predictable. This phase often includes:
- Regular medication management visits
- Periodic labs or monitoring when indicated
- Random or scheduled drug / alcohol screening where clinically appropriate
- Ongoing review of functioning, risk, and goals
Length of maintenance is individualized. Some people taper off medication; others remain on long term maintenance because the benefits clearly outweigh risks.
Our difference
MAT at Insight occurs inside a larger clinical ecosystem; the same practice that manages your medication can also provide psychotherapy, dual diagnosis treatment, and psychological testing if needed, with clinicians coordinating behind the scenes so you are not having to ensure your team is coordinating your care.
If you are repeatedly cycling through withdrawal, short-term abstinence, and relapse, MAT is not “taking the easy way out.” It is using the available evidence to stabilize a medical condition so you can really do the work required to change.
Contact our office to schedule a medication evaluation and determine whether MAT is an appropriate part of your treatment plan.