As an addict new in sobriety, it can be difficult to make any decisions about your life, especially those which will have a major impact on you. At Evolutions Treatment Center, we do our best to minimize the amount of decision-making you are required to do early on in your treatment. One important decision you will have to make is whether or not you would like to enroll in a Medically-Assisted Treatment program. Here are some things to think about as you consider a MAT program as part of your recovery.
A question we encounter frequently from those patients considering a MAT program is whether it is a lifelong commitment. Nothing could be further from the truth! We enter sobriety to rid ourselves of dependence on substances, not to trade one dependency for another. Your specific MAT protocol will be tailored to your needs and goals for your sobriety, and can last as little as a few months or as long as a year depending on your situation. Regardless of the recommended length of your MAT treatment you can always discuss an earlier termination of medication with your doctor, who will then determine a safe, appropriate taper for you.
Another question we often hear is whether or not MAT medications will negatively impact your ability to function in work or life. This should not be a concern for you at all, as the medical team at Evolutions will work with you to establish an appropriate dosage which only dampens your cravings for substances and does not affect your cognitive or motor functions in any way. You will be able to perform your duties at work unencumbered by your previous substance abuse problem and unaffected by your new medication regimen.
Finally, you may be asking yourself whether or not you need MAT at all. You’ve successfully completed detox and are looking forward to transitioning to inpatient residential treatment. You feel excited about being sober, hopeful for the future, and cravings are nonexistent for you. Why should you treat a symptom that isn’t there? The answer is simple – the MAT program is designed to minimize the chances of you relapsing on your substance of choice. Just because you aren’t experiencing any cravings in the safe environment of residential treatment does not mean they are not going to visit upon you once you move on to the next phase of your recovery. It is better to have a solid safety net established before you return to the outside world rather than testing those waters without a lifejacket. At Evolutions, our medical team will work with you to design a MAT program which maximizes your chances at long-term sobriety. Call our Admissions Counselors today at 833-818-3031 and find out how our MAT programs can work for you.