Addiction is a condition in which a person takes harmful substances knowing the consequences that it will have on the body. Unfortunately, in our society, too often it is just assumed that those who use drugs are bad people. It is high time to change that way of thinking and consider that addiction is more like a disease than anything else. That being said, it should also be treated in a similar manner to chronic disease. Additionally, addiction should be considered a disease because of the way opioid use can seriously affect brain function. By treating this with medication we can hope to see this opioid epidemic decrease and see people in maintenance.
Greene County Family Planning (GCFP) is a pioneer clinic that is unique among its peers.
MAT can include many different types of medications and treatment options, but Greene County Family Planning focuses primarily on Buprenorphine/Naloxone.
MAT is quite safe, and the reason why is because there are many different options for individualized treatment that will be tailored to the patient.
Generally, MAT is designed to save lives as well as improve quality of life for those who suffer from opioid use disorder.
MAT does not have a timeline of when the medication needs to be stopped. When it comes to Buprenorphine/Naloxone, patients can take the medication for life if that is their wish and their prescribing provider has determined it’s the best course of action. Gradually lowering the dose of Buprenorphine/Naloxone a patient gets over time until the medication is no longer required is called tapering. This is not a requirement of treatment however, and again this is only done if the patient and provider both agree that this is the best decision.
For an appointment call for availability 518-719-3580
For more information about MAT visit: https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment