Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is a time-tested, research-supported approach to opioid addiction treatment for adults. MAT, which has been closely studied in the United States for several decades, has a documented history of effectiveness. The core components of MAT are prescription medication and counseling. The medications that are offered in MAT can ease some of the more severe symptoms of opioid withdrawal, and when people take these medications as directed by their doctors, they may find it much easier to end their opioid use. Some MAT patients take medication for a relatively brief time, then begin to taper off. Others continue to take medication for months or even years. The medications that are used in MAT programs have proved to be safe and beneficial for both short- and long-term use when taken with supervision from qualified professionals. The counseling component of MAT can help patients address the behavioral, emotional, and social aspects of opioid addiction. During counseling sessions, adults can gain information about the disease of addiction and develop the skills and strategies that can help them resist opioid use and achieve healthier futures.
