Medication plus therapy
Medication-Assisted Treatment Program in Florida
Prescription medications that relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings, combined with the therapy that addresses why the addiction took hold.
About this program
Medication-assisted treatment
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines medications with talk therapy to treat substance use disorders — primarily addiction to alcohol and opioids, including heroin, synthetic opioids, and prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin. The medications help normalize brain chemistry, relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and block the euphoric effects that make drinking or opioid use rewarding.
Many people maintain recovery without MAT; for others, it is the edge they need to stay sober and focus on treatment. Whether MAT is right for you is a clinical decision, made by the treatment provider based on individual needs, tolerance, and substance use history — and it always happens under the supervision of a trained professional who monitors for adverse reactions and any signs of misuse.
MAT is provided through our detox center in West Palm Beach. For opioid use disorders it usually begins with medically supervised detox, then continues alongside residential care, therapy, and aftercare — because the medication manages the physical side of addiction while treatment works on everything underneath.
Medications we use
For alcohol use disorder, the most common medications are acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone; for opioid use disorder, naltrexone, buprenorphine, and methadone. Each works differently:
Acamprosate
Reduces cravings for alcohol by changing how the brain operates. It does not prevent withdrawal symptoms, so it is used after detox is complete and drinking has stopped.
Disulfiram
Makes drinking unpleasant: even a small amount of alcohol triggers nausea, headache, sweating, and weakness within minutes, lasting an hour or more.
Naltrexone
Used for both alcohol and opioid addiction after detox. It blocks the pleasant effects — the payoff — of drinking or opioid use, which reduces cravings.
Buprenorphine
For opioid addiction, started in the early stages of withdrawal. It produces low-level effects that mimic opioids, easing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Methadone
For opioid addiction. It reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings while diminishing or eliminating the high from misused opioids.
What the research shows
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has studied MAT's effectiveness. People taking methadone were 4.4 times more likely to remain in treatment and tested positive for opioids 33% less often. Those on adequate doses of buprenorphine were 1.8 times more likely to stay in treatment, with 14% fewer positive opioid tests. And people on extended-release injectable naltrexone had 90% abstinent weeks versus 35% for a placebo group, with higher treatment retention.
Contrary to a common belief, these medications do not simply substitute one drug for another. Used correctly and under supervision, they help people stabilize their lives and reduce the harm associated with opioid use.
How detox works with MAT
Detox — clearing alcohol and drugs from the body — is the first step, and because withdrawal can be dangerous, it happens under medical supervision. The process moves through three stages:
Evaluation
Medical professionals assess physical and mental health: screenings for co-occurring disorders, withdrawal risk, and a full review of medical, psychiatric, and substance use history.
Stabilization
The core of detox: getting through withdrawal safely and with minimal discomfort, using medication, nutritional support, and close monitoring for complications.
Preparing for treatment
Detox alone is not enough for long-term recovery. Once stable, the focus shifts to the next phase — therapy, medication, peer support, and comprehensive treatment.
Why detoxing alone is dangerous
Going cold turkey at home is risky in ways that are easy to underestimate. Depending on the substance, withdrawal symptoms range from uncomfortable to life-threatening — anxiety, depression, seizures, hallucinations. Without medical support those symptoms go unchecked, the discomfort drives a high risk of relapse, underlying mental health issues can worsen, and there is no therapeutic support for the psychological side of withdrawal. The risks of self-detox far outweigh the appeal.
The role of therapy in MAT
Medication is only half of MAT. It can ease withdrawal and cravings, but the program depends on active participation in therapy, which offers what medication cannot:
- A deeper understanding of your life history
- Examining what led to the substance use in the first place
- Resolving the issues that kept the addiction active
- Healthy coping skills to replace the damaging ones
- A neutral person to talk to without judgment
- More effective communication with family and friends
- Understanding and enforcing healthy boundaries
- A plan to stay in recovery long after treatment ends
Ready to talk with admissions?
Admissions is available 24/7 to answer questions about mental health and substance use treatment options.