Why is Medication-Assisted Treatment for Addiction So Controversial?
When treatment is both effective and increases treatment retention rateโthe rate at which patients remain sober after completing an addiction treatment programโit seems like it shouldnโt be a source of controversy. Why are people sleeping on a treatment method tailored to opioid abuse disorders when opioid addiction continues to ravage the populace at every single level?
Because itโs been portrayed as the โblack sheepโ of the rehabilitation industry, only 35 percent of people with OUD receive medication-assisted treatment. Despite its proven effectiveness, many patients and doctors shy away in favor of traditional methods that donโt reside at the center of a storm of controversy.
Why Medication-Assisted Treatment Works
Like any other treatment, medication-assisted treatment is most effective when itโs complemented with other techniques as part of a larger treatment plan. Much like drugs used for other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, medication-assisted treatment works in tandem with counseling, therapy, and other possible treatments for acute medical disorders.
Medication-assisted treatment uses opioid agonists that mimic the effects of opioids to stave off withdrawal symptoms or block their absorption into the body. This creates a window during which patients can transition away from dangerous opioids in a safe, supervised program.
Stigma Propagates Opioid Addiction
According to studies, about 65 percent of OUD patients started out misusing prescription medications prescribed to them for pain. Considering opiate addicts face more social stigma than even mental illness patients, failed attempts to quit or taper oneโs usage just serve to further discourage recovery.
Family membersโoften the first line of support and defense against addictionโhave a high percentage of negative attitudes toward substance abuse. Because of the negative experiences resulting from a loved oneโs addiction, family members tend to have higher rates of disapproval of addiction patients. Mental illness trends in the opposite direction and, even worse, health providers tend to share these attitudes.
The prejudices that many OUD patients experience feel like evidence that the entire world is against them. Without adequate support from the people meant to help them the most, fewer OUD patients seek treatment at all.
Unfortunately, the stigma against users means MAT has another significant obstacle.
Are People Who Use Medication-Assisted Treatment Substituting One Drug for Another?
Although most providers, OUD patients, and even the public see medication-assisted treatment as a form of substitution, that is not the case.
The concept of substitution in addiction is when someone swaps one substance for another. As it happens, methadone and suboxone are classified as opiate substances so, at least on a technical level, substitution is an accurate description of MAT programs. However, the key difference between MAT and other forms of drug substitution is the significant amount of harm reduction that occurs when a patient transitions from street opioids to methadone or suboxone.
A Lack of Guidelines
While the FDA approved drugs for MAT treatment, the medical community has no formal guidelines or established standards. Without a formal, universally-accepted set of guidelines, patients and doctors must monitor their progress and potential problems with incredible care and transparency, traits both parties might struggle to use in a challenging, emotional time.
Many members of the medical community have concerns about one fact: The framework to guide their medication-assisted treatment process is virtually non-existent. Guidelines for appropriate medication selection; ideal dosages based on weight, sex, and age; length of treatment; and effective incorporation of other treatments would give providers more confidence in this form of treatment.
Of course, healthy skepticism is encouraged in healthcare so that treatments arenโt prescribed haphazardly, lest providers accidentally endanger patientsโ lives.
Not For Everyone
Like any other treatment program, medication-assisted treatment isnโt right for everyone. For instance, some patients suffer more severe withdrawal symptoms than the addictive drugs they sought to treat.
The retention rate for medication-assisted treatment reaches 50 percent in some communities while remaining much lower among other groups. Itโs also worth noting the black market for the drugs used in MAT that has sprung up around this industry, likely exacerbating the reservations that were already pervasive.
Purposes Recovery is Here for You
Donโt let the controversy surrounding medically-assisted treatment keep you from becoming more informed about the rehabilitation process. If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, Purposes Recovery can help you find yourself again.
At our luxury medical detox in Los Angeles, we have created a safe, relaxing environment for clients to start their journeys to sobriety. Call our toll-free number to explore our treatment options and for other life-saving support.
