Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Medications used in MAT are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and MAT programs are clinically driven and tailored to meet each patient’s needs.

Research shows that a combination of medication and therapy can successfully treat these disorders, and for some people struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain recovery. MAT is also used to prevent or reduce opioid overdose.

MAT is primarily used for the treatment of addiction to opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relievers that contain opiates. The prescribed medication operates to normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids, relieve physiological cravings, and normalize body functions without the negative and euphoric effects of the substance used.

The leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States is smoking: Over 480,000 Americans die each year from smoking-related complications, such as heart disease and lung cancer, and over 41,000 of these deaths result from exposure to secondhand smoke. 

Typically, there are a couple ways to quit smoking: by stopping altogether, known as going “cold turkey," or by gradually decreasing the number of cigarettes smoked, thus decreasing the amount of nicotine the body craves. This process can be a tedious and stressful one, and most people who smoke have to quit several times before they are successful. 

There are a variety of ways to quit smoking available, many of which increase the success rate or decrease the number of attempts needed before quitting is successfully achieved.

Counseling or help from a medical doctor or therapist may include information about the effects of smoking on the body, advice on ways to quit, and other assistance that may improve chances of quitting.

Outpatient therapy can take many forms, depending on the client’s needs. Individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and couple’s therapy can all be provided in an outpatient setting. Sessions can range in frequency, including weekly, twice per week, every other week, and monthly, depending on the individual client’s need and progress in treatment.

Therapists offering outpatient services can practice from many different theoretical orientations depending on the therapist’s personal style and training background.

Outpatient therapy allows anyone to seek therapy services and support for their mental health while allowing them to live their lives in between sessions. Many clients can continue to work or go to school while receiving outpatient therapy services.

In Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) therapy, a client meets 9 hours or more of treatment per week for 3 to 5 days. Group therapy is the main component of many intensive outpatient programs. Groups allow IOP participants to improve their communication, learn how to socialize without drug or alcohol, support each other, and experience structure and discipline. 

Other IOP services include individual counseling, medication management, case management, introduction to support groups, psychiatric screening, and vocational training. 

In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life. 

Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a few different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.