How Does Medication-Assisted Therapy Help Manage Alcohol Use Disorder?

If you have been struggling with alcohol use disorder, medication-assisted therapy or MAT may have crossed your mind. MAT is an approach that uses a combination of medicines and therapy to address problems related to alcohol addiction and is one of the most effective ways to deal with addiction. When MAT is combined with self-efforts, the results are life-altering.

How Does Medication-Assisted Therapy Help Manage Alcohol Use Disorder?

If you are a resident of Orange County, you will be happy to know that there are numerous detox centers in the city that offer medication-assisted therapy to patients to help them overcome alcohol use disorder. These facilities offering detox in Orange County are known for their world-class facilities, medical professionals, and approach. But before you enroll yourself in a MAT detox facility to manage alcohol use disorder, let us look at how it helps deal with alcohol addiction. 

What is Medication Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder? 

When a person decides to manage their alcohol use, the first step that they take is alcohol detox. However, the problem with unsupervised alcohol detoxification is that it is accompanied by severe withdrawal symptoms that are very difficult to manage. In such a situation, medication-assisted treatment under the guidance of experienced professionals becomes imperative to tackle all the side effects that accompany alcohol detox. 

In MAT, different medicines and therapies are administered to the patient to manage withdrawal symptoms and curb cravings.  Medication is accompanied by behavioral therapy to ensure that the patient completely recovers from alcohol misuse and doesn’t fall back into the same pattern. 

The idea behind MAT is that when a person has been consuming alcohol for a long time, the entire brain chemistry is altered. So, medication-assisted therapy is administered to normalize the chemical composition of the brain disrupted by alcohol and help the person successfully go through alcohol detoxification. 

Now that you know what MAT is, it’s time to look at some of the common medicines used in this therapy: 

• Naltrexone: This medicine blocks the high that one feels when consuming alcohol, which helps curb cravings. 
• Disulfiram: The drug works by triggering unpleasant side effects of alcohol consumption. So, if you take disulfiram before drinking, you will experience nausea, vomiting, and numerous other side effects. 
• Acamprosate: This works best for people who have already stopped drinking. It helps manage mild withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and improves sleeping patterns and mood. 

Benefits of Medication-Assisted Therapy

MAT is one of the most sought-after therapies for addicts who are looking for a flexible yet effective solution to deal with their addiction. Here are some of the most crucial benefits of MAT that make it one of the most preferred choices among patients: 

• Lowers Risks of Relapses 

One of the most common problems that addicts face is going back to their same old pattern even after being sober for a while. This happens primarily because the individual is unable to manage the long-term withdrawal symptoms that come with addiction. However, with the help of medicines such as acamprosate, the addict is able to manage them and avoid replases. 

• It is Cost-Effective

MAT is preferred by patients because of its cost-effectiveness. Alcohol addiction already puts the addict and their family in a lot of financial strain. On top of that, when you have to undergo a detoxification process, the financial burden just adds up. However, MAT is a great solution for people who are looking for a cost-effective solution. 

• Flexibility

MAT can be included in both inpatient and outpatient programs, making them highly flexible. In fact, many people start with MAT at the end of their inpatient program to help deal with relapses. 

• High Speed of Action 

MAT is known for its high speed of action since it starts showing results from the first dosage of medication. For instance, disulfiram starts showing its effects within ten minutes of consumption. 

Conclusion 

MAT is a great approach for patients who are looking for long-term freedom from alcohol misuse. The approach offers flexibility and cost-effective solutions, and when implemented as a part of a holistic approach, it is a great solution for addicts who are unable to overcome the vicious cycle of addiction. 

However, before you opt for a detox program that offers MAT, it is important to check its success rate to ensure you are making the right choice.