Medication-assisted treatment is the use of FDA-approved medications alongside counseling to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders. It sits at the center of the evidence-based addiction treatment therapies at LACATC because it addresses the biology of addiction directly. SAMHSA recognizes 3 medications for opioid use disorder, and physicians at LACATC prescribe and manage all appropriate options on site in Encino.
Is MAT just trading one drug for another?
No, MAT is not trading one drug for another, it is medicine that normalizes brain chemistry without producing a high when taken as prescribed. This is the most damaging myth in addiction treatment, and it keeps people using street drugs that kill them.
3 facts answer the stigma:
- MAT medications are FDA-approved and SAMHSA-endorsed as first-line treatment
- Properly dosed buprenorphine occupies receptors without euphoria
- Untreated opioid addiction has a far higher death rate than managed MAT
Insulin manages diabetes, and nobody calls that trading one problem for another. MAT deserves the same clinical respect, and at LACATC it gets it.
Insulin manages diabetes. MAT deserves the same clinical respect.
Which medications does LACATC prescribe?
LACATC prescribes buprenorphine, naltrexone, and supportive medications, matched by a physician to your substance, history, and goals. The match matters more than the menu.
The 3 core options work differently:
- Suboxone (buprenorphine) controls cravings and withdrawal for opioid use disorder
- Vivitrol (injectable naltrexone) blocks opioid effects and reduces alcohol cravings after detox
- Oral naltrexone and acamprosate support alcohol recovery day to day
Doses adjust throughout treatment as your body stabilizes. Monthly Vivitrol injections suit patients who struggle with daily pills, while Suboxone films suit those who want flexible dosing. Your physician revisits the choice at every level of care.
When does MAT start?
MAT starts during detox, with induction timed to your withdrawal stage. Our medical detox program in Los Angeles County handles Suboxone induction carefully, because dosing too early triggers precipitated withdrawal and dosing too late prolongs suffering.
How does MAT fit into the full treatment plan?
MAT works as one-half of a whole plan, with therapy carrying the other half. Medication quiets the biological noise so counseling, group work, and trauma treatment can actually be heard.
Patients on MAT participate fully in residential care, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for addiction treatment, and family sessions. Veterans pair MAT with trauma care through our veteran addiction treatment in Los Angeles County, where TRICARE and VA benefits cover both. The medication makes the therapy possible, and the therapy makes the medication temporary for those who choose to taper.
Medication quiets the noise so therapy can be heard.
How long do patients stay on MAT?
Patients stay on MAT as long as it helps, commonly 12 months or longer for opioid recovery. Duration is a medical decision made with your physician, never a deadline imposed by a program or an arbitrary taper date.
Research consistently ties longer MAT duration to lower relapse and overdose rates. CDC data shows U.S. overdose deaths fell 26.9% in 2024 as medication treatment and naloxone access expanded, and that progress is the direct result of treating addiction as medicine.
FAQ
Cravings are chemistry, and chemistry has answers. Call LACATC or begin addiction treatment today at LACATC to verify insurance and meet with a MAT physician in Encino this week.