Individuals who are addicted to substances can benefit from rehabilitative treatment that restores their agency in their own lives and helps them to achieve their goals. However, the types of treatment available vary, from in-person assistance to outpatient programs. Among the options is medical assisted treatment, and to decide whether it is right for you or someone you love, you first need to understand what it is and how it works.
Medical Assisted Treatment Overview
Medical assisted treatment is a type of substance abuse rehabilitation that provides medicine during the typical withdrawal phase of remission and beyond. For some patients, this medical assistance is necessary, as withdrawal can be a physically dangerous time. For others, receiving medicines that help to alleviate the severe cravings associated with deeply ingrained addiction can set them on the path to recovery.
Some medicines, such as Naloxone, can rapidly reverse the effects of an overdose and play a critical role in helping those who struggle with substance abuse to return to the life they would like to lead. Other medications are available for long-term use to help keep cravings at bay, reducing the chance at remission. Medical assisted treatment has been shown to offer numerous benefits, such as an improved relationship with substances in the future and a reduced rate of death as a result of overdoses.
Benefits Of Medical Assisted Treatment
Each patient who undergoes medically assisted substance abuse treatment will receive an individualized program that is tailored to their specific needs. Because the medications typically block the euphoric effects of the substance that the individual is addicted to, cravings are reduced and recovery can begin. Patients who complete a program of medical assisted treatment also experience better long-term outcomes.
Reduced Rate Of Opioid Use
One of the most common benefits of a medical assisted treatment plan is that over the long term, patients who complete the program tend to have a lower rate of opioid use. This suggests that the use of medical intervention to reduce cravings and destroy the euphoric feeling associated with using a substance has a positive and long-lasting impact on those who choose to rely on this type of rehabilitation. Over time, fewer remissions back to opioid use allow individuals to maintain their personal responsibilities, finances, and lifestyle more successfully than those who swing in and out of a relationship with substances.
Decreased Criminal Activity
In addition to an overall reduced rate of opioid use, those who have completed a medically assisted treatment program tend to participate in less criminal activity. The reasons for this are many, but one primary cause is the ability to achieve their goals and sustain their sought lifestyle through non-criminal means. Coupled with the reduced frequency of returning to substance abuse, individuals who benefit from medically assisted treatment stay out of criminal activity consistently.
Fewer Overdose Deaths
Because medically assisted treatment helps patients to overcome the deeply ingrained brain chemistry that is wired to crave the substance they were addicted to, individuals who rely on medical assistance when treated for addiction are less likely to suffer a fatal overdose. This statistic aligns with the previous data points illustrating that the rate of opioid use is reduced in individuals who have completed a medically assisted treatment program.
Speak To An Experienced Maryland Addiction Recovery Center
Whether you are a person who is currently struggling with your relationship to a substance or you are a concerned friend or family member, the best place to begin the journey to an addiction-free life is with help from a rehabilitative program. There is no shame in acknowledging that you cannot handle the problem on your own and need help; this is a wise and courageous realization. Be sure to seek assistance from an experienced addiction recovery center so that you have the best chance of maintaining an addiction-free lifestyle for the long term.
At Insight Treatment Center, we believe that the programs that work best are those that are individually customized to suit each person’s needs. We strive to offer the best addiction treatment possible by making a wide variety of options and therapies available. Whether you need medically assisted treatment or mental health therapy, we are available to help you navigate this challenging process so that you can set yourself up for success. Reach out to schedule an appointment to meet with one of our experts. We will help you create a strategy that is right for you so that you can overcome your addiction and live the life that you want to lead.
