The consequences of untreated addictions can be tragic for an individual and/or family. Spring River Mental Health & Wellness, Inc. provides Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for safe at home withdrawal from alcohol or opioids.

The Medication Prescriber utilizes medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose.

MAT is one way to assist in the recovery of those with opioid, alcohol, or nicotine disorders. There are three important parts to this type of treatment, which include:

• Medication

• Counseling

• Support from friends and family

Spring River Mental Health and Wellness, Inc.'s Treatment Team works with the individual to develop a person centered treatment plan to provide support through induction, maintenance, and even relapse.

• Medication Prescriber

• Nursing Staff

• Substance Use Counselor

• Peer Recovery Coach

• Behavioral Health Clinician

• Facilitates safer withdrawal by relieving symptoms and controlling cravings.

• Reduces the risk of death due to overdose. Increases retention in treatment with safer, controlled medications.

• Decreases illegal drug use and, with it, the potential dangers and legal consequences.

• Prevents relapse when integrated with counseling and behavioral therapies.

Individual and/or group counseling is an important part of MAT. Through counseling and/or support from a peer recovery coach, people learn why the addiction occurred, the problems it has caused, and what they need to change to overcome those problems.

Counseling can provide motivation to participate in treatment. It can teach coping skills and prevent relapse. It can help people learn how to make healthy choices, manage setbacks, and stress, and move forward in their lives.

Nursing staff can provide support and care management services, including vitals, referrals, patient education, and coordination of medication delivery.

• MAT is primarily used for the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders to normalize brain chemistry, reduce physiological cravings, normalize body functions without the negative and euphoric effects of the substance used.

• MAT can be short- or long-term treatment and is safe to use for months, years, or even a lifetime. Research on those using medications to assist with recovery from alcohol or opioids shows the longer the person remains in treatment, the better the outcomes.

• Medications used, such as Buprenorphine, prevent withdrawal symptoms and cravings while Naltrexone prevents cravings. These medications are typically prescribed together to better treat these symptoms. This allows those in MAT services to focus on other needs associated with substance use disorder, such as maintaining employment, meeting court requirements or child welfare needs, or simply feeling more control in everyday life.