Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment pairs FDA-approved medication with therapy. Mountain View Health offers it in Seattle for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder, with a prescriber deciding whether medication fits.
MAT at a Glance
Medication-assisted treatment pairs an FDA-approved medication with counseling for opioid or alcohol use disorder. At Mountain View Health, a prescriber decides whether buprenorphine, naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram fits, and you also attend therapy at one of our outpatient levels of care.
SAMHSA lists certified opioid treatment programs at findtreatment.gov. Read how opioid treatment and alcohol treatment work here.
Understanding Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat substance use disorders. SAMHSA recognizes MAT as a treatment for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder.
MAT targets the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that make stopping so hard without medical support. Medications such as buprenorphine and naltrexone act on opioid receptors in the brain to ease cravings or block the effects of opioids.
When cravings are steadier, you can take part more fully in therapy. That gives you room to build coping skills and work on what drives your substance use.
MAT at Mountain View Health is never medication alone. Your plan has four parts:
Our Approach
Opioid and alcohol use disorders are medical conditions, not moral failures. Mountain View Health pairs FDA-approved medication, when a prescriber decides it fits, with individual and group therapy that addresses cravings, triggers, and habits.
A prescriber decides whether buprenorphine, naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram fits, and monitors how it works for you.
Medication is paired with individual and group therapy, including CBT and DBT skills, so change does not depend on the medication alone.
Your assessment decides your starting level of care, and the plan is reviewed as your needs change.
Ready to begin your recovery?
Verify InsuranceOur Approach
MAT is used for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. These lists show who it is used for and what it can help with.
Who It Helps
MAT may help when cravings, withdrawal, and relapse risk make stopping difficult without medication. A prescriber decides whether it fits.
For adults with heroin, fentanyl, or prescription opioid dependence. Medication can ease withdrawal distress and cravings.
For adults with alcohol dependence. Medications such as naltrexone and acamprosate can reduce cravings.
For people who have tried to stop before and returned to use. Medication can address the cravings that make recovery hard to sustain.
For clients whose cravings and withdrawal make the first weeks of treatment hard. Medication can steady the physical side so therapy is easier to engage in.
For adults who became opioid-dependent through a legitimate prescription. A prescriber decides whether medication fits and how it is monitored.
For clients who are stable on medication and committed to ongoing recovery. A prescriber follows your medication while your plan steps down to lighter outpatient care.
Medications
A prescriber decides which medication fits you, if any. This table describes each one in general terms and is not medical advice.
| Medication | Used for | How it is given | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) | Opioid use disorder | Dissolved under the tongue as a film or tablet | Eases cravings and withdrawal symptoms. A prescriber sets the dose and follows up with you. |
| Naltrexone (Vivitrol is the monthly injection) | Opioid or alcohol use disorder | A daily tablet or a monthly injection | Blocks opioid effects and reduces alcohol cravings. For opioid use disorder, it can start only after opioid detox is complete. |
| Acamprosate | Alcohol use disorder | Tablets | Helps people who have stopped drinking stay off alcohol. |
| Disulfiram | Alcohol use disorder | A daily tablet | Causes an unpleasant reaction if you drink alcohol, so you must not drink while taking it. |
Methadone for opioid use disorder is dispensed only by certified opioid treatment programs, and Mountain View Health is not one. Source: SAMHSA, medications for substance use disorders.
Common Questions
No. Medication for opioid or alcohol use disorder steadies cravings and withdrawal so therapy can do its work. SAMHSA and the American Society of Addiction Medicine recognize it as an evidence-based treatment, and a prescriber monitors it like any other treatment for a medical condition.
For opioid use disorder, buprenorphine or naltrexone. For alcohol use disorder, naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram. A prescriber decides which one fits your history and health. We do not dispense methadone, which only a certified opioid treatment program can provide.
There is no required timeline. You and your prescriber decide together, and the plan can change as your recovery does. Some people use medication for months, and others stay on it longer.
Dosing aims to ease cravings and withdrawal without impairing you, and your prescriber adjusts it over time. Tell your prescriber if you feel sedated, sick, or not like yourself, so the dose or medication can change.
Medication is one part of a plan that also includes individual therapy and group therapy. You choose a level of care, from partial hospitalization to outpatient, and your team reviews the plan as you progress.
It can, depending on your plan and medical necessity, and no one can promise it in advance. Admissions verifies your benefits for free and can ask how your plan covers medication, which may run through a pharmacy or medical benefit.
Tell admissions and your prescriber if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Medication choices during pregnancy need a prescriber and your obstetric provider, and a web page cannot answer them for you.
Returning to use can happen in recovery. If it does, your team reviews what happened and adjusts your plan, and you will not be punished for it. Tell your team early so they can respond.
Benefits Verification
Benefits verification is free, carries no obligation, and starts from a secure form. Admissions explains what your plan covers so you know your next step.
How The Process Works
Secure Submission
Provide your basic policy info through our secure form. Submitting it is confidential and carries no obligation.
Admissions Review
Admissions checks what your plan covers for partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient care.
Clear Guidance
If your plan can be run, a written breakdown usually arrives within 1 to 2 hours. It is not a guarantee of coverage.