Recurrence rates for opioid use disorder without medication can reach 80 to 90 percent. That single number explains why medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has…
Mountain View Treatment
Editorial Team
Recurrence rates for opioid use disorder without medication can reach 80 to 90 percent. That single number explains why medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has become the standard of care rather than an optional add-on. At Mountain View Treatment in Seattle, MAT sits inside a full outpatient program that pairs prescribed medication with therapy, so the biology and the behavior get treated at the same time.
Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes this as a whole-patient approach. So what is medication-assisted treatment doing that willpower alone can't? It corrects the brain chemistry that addiction rewires.
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a complex medical condition shaped by genetics, brain chemistry, and life experiences, not a moral failing. Understanding that changes everything about care. The treatment of substance use disorders through assisted treatment MAT treats OUD the way medicine treats other chronic illness: with the right medication, ongoing monitoring, and support that adjusts over time.
Three FDA-approved medications anchor most MAT programs: methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared each for treatment of opioid dependence, and the drug administration FDA publishes prescribing guidance for all three.
Methadone and buprenorphine are opioid agonist medications. They bind to opioid receptors and relieve the withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings that cause chemical imbalances in the body, without producing the euphoric effects of a synthetic opioid taken to get high. Buprenorphine for the treatment of OUD partially activates those receptors, which caps its effect and lowers overdose risk. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist: it blocks opioid receptors entirely so opioids produce no reward.
For alcohol use disorder, the medications differ. Naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram are FDA-approved medications that reduce alcohol cravings or make drinking unpleasant. This is one way MAT for OUD and alcohol care diverge: opioid treatment focuses on receptor activity, while alcohol treatment targets reward and aversion pathways.
These medications normalize brain chemistry and reduce cravings for opioids without swapping one drug for another. MAT is not substituting one addictive drug for another. Methadone or buprenorphine is dosed to restore balance, not to intoxicate. That distinction matters, because stigma keeps eligible patients with OUD away from care that works.
The behavioral outcomes are measurable across the United States. MAT decreases illicit opioid use, criminal activity, and transmission of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis C. It also cuts opioid-related overdose deaths and emergency visits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that expanding medications for addiction is central to reducing opioid overdose nationwide.
Our MAT protocols are overseen by board-certified addiction medicine psychiatrists. Medication is never the whole plan. Each patient works through individual and group counseling and behavioral therapies, including CBT, DBT, EMDR, and somatic work, alongside their prescription. That combination is what separates real substance use disorder treatment from just medication.
Because MAT works best with wraparound care, we build it into three outpatient levels. PHP runs 5 to 6 days per week for clients leaving detox. IOP runs 3 to 5 days with day and evening tracks. OP runs 1 to 3 days for long-term maintenance and helps sustain recovery. Peer support, mindfulness, and nature-based programming along Seattle's Green River Trail round out the behavioral health approach.
Access to MAT can be delayed by insurance confusion. Our financial advocates verify benefits within 1 to 2 hours through a HIPAA-compliant portal, and admissions run 24/7. We work with Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, and Tricare.
Fewer than half of privately funded programs offer MAT, and only about one-third of eligible patients receive it. Rural communities face the sharpest barriers: provider shortages, few facilities, and long travel distances. Expanding access means closing provider training gaps and reducing regulatory friction so more treatment providers can prescribe buprenorphine.
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MAT can be delivered through an opioid treatment program, an addiction medicine specialty clinic, or primary care. When primary care integrates medication for opioid use, follow-up and outcomes look similar to managing other chronic conditions. The American Society of Addiction Medicine supports this expansion of evidence-based treatment across health care settings.
There's no fixed timeline. Some people stay on medication for a year, others for several years, and some indefinitely. Length depends on stability, cravings, and life circumstances, decided between each patient and their care team.
MAT substantially improves treatment retention and reduces relapse compared to counseling alone. Since untreated OUD recurs in up to 80 to 90 percent of cases, medication meaningfully improves the odds of sustained recovery.
Costs vary by medication and program intensity. Rather than guess, our team runs a complimentary benefits check within 1 to 2 hours and gives you full cost transparency before you commit. Most PPO plans cover MAT.
Missing methadone or buprenorphine doses can trigger opioid withdrawal and raise relapse and opioid overdose risk. Tell your prescriber immediately so they can adjust safely rather than restarting at your usual dose.
Yes. MAT works well alongside treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Our dual diagnosis care treats both conditions together, which improves outcomes over treating either alone.
MAT improves maternal and fetal outcomes for pregnant or breastfeeding women with OUD. Methadone and buprenorphine are used under close medical supervision because untreated opioid use poses greater risk to mother and baby.
Yes, through a gradual, medically supervised taper. Your prescriber lowers the dose in steps to minimize withdrawal symptoms, while therapy reinforces coping skills. Stopping abruptly is what raises relapse risk, not the taper itself.
If opioid misuse is affecting you or someone you love, call Mountain View Treatment at (253) 252-5875 any time, or start online at mountainviewtreatment.com/admissions. Benefits are verified within 1 to 2 hours, and a clinician will help you decide which level of care fits.
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