Medication Assisted Treatment
CompDrug’s medical and clinical staff work as an integrated team to treat individuals struggling with opiate use disorder on an outpatient basis. MAT patients are prescribed methadone or suboxone by a staff physician to provide physiological stabilization making it possible for the patient to participate fully in the clinical treatment process. The treatment program utilizes a performance/compliance system to determine the frequency of clinical treatment contacts and take-home medication privileges. Individuals who demonstrate a need for a higher level of care are referred to CompDrug’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or another appropriate provider. Random urinalysis and alco-sensor testing assist in determining treatment effectiveness.
Medications We Offer
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opiate that has been used for the treatment of opioid addiction for over 40 years. It has a much longer half-life than most opiates. It works by blocking the ‘high’ produced by other opiates and helps decrease cravings and withdrawal symptoms for 24-36 hours after each dose, which helps decrease the risk of relapse.
Methadone changes the way your brain and nervous system respond to pain so that you feel relief. Its effects are slower than those of other strong painkillers like morphine. It also blocks the high from drugs like codeine, heroin, hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone. It can give a similar feeling and keep you from having withdrawal symptoms and cravings. You will hear this called replacement therapy. It’s usually just one part of your treatment plan. It isn’t a cure for addiction.
Methadone as used for the treatment addiction is strictly regulated. In the US, outpatient treatment programs must be certified by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in order to prescribe methadone for opioid addiction.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a opioid partial agonist, which means that it can produce the typical opioid effects and side effects, however, its maximal effects are less than those of full agonists. Buprenorphine also allows suppression of withdrawal symptoms and decreases cravings, but for a longer time (about 24-60 hours) after each dose. Because of its partial agonist activity, it is safer in overdose and carries lower risk of side effects.
Vivitrol
Naltrexone is a once a month injection that is used in the treatment of both opiate and alcohol addiction. It can help significantly reduce cravings for opiates and/or alcohol, and is used to help prevent relapse of either addiction. Naltrexone is not a narcotic or an opiate, it is an opiate blocker or antagonist. Once injected, the naltrexone molecules sit in and fill up the opiate receptor sites. This significantly reduces cravings (many clients even report their cravings are eliminated), and helps prevent relapse because one will not have a euphoric or ‘high’ effect, if they use opiates.
Sublocade
CompDrug has added another medication choice for medically appropriate patients.
In addition to offering Methadone, Naltrexone (Vivtrol), and Suboxone, CompDrug now offers Sublocade. Suboxone and Sublocade are two different formulations of the medication buprenorphine; suboxone is a sublingual film which is placed under the tongue and contains naloxone, while Sublocade is an injectable form of buprenorphine taken once per month.
As with any medication, what is right for each patient is a decision between you and your medical provider. For more information or questions, please speak with your counselor or a CompDrug medical provider.