New Era Rehabilitation in Bridgeport and New Haven, CT, provides medication-assisted treatment for opioid and substance abuse utilizing methadone, suboxone, buprenorphine and vivitrol. Dealing with a chronic disease like substance use disorder is difficult, even if you’ve successfully started or completed a recovery program. Patients often receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) as a part of comprehensive, long-term treatment plans that include behavioral therapy, group therapy, and counseling to promote success in recovery.
MAT helps ensure those in recovery stay in recovery by providing medication therapy that addresses pain and cravings that often fuel the addiction in the first place or lead to relapses. At the same time, they also receive attention for mental and emotional health.
At New Era Rehabilitation, you’ll find a facility with drug abuse experts ready to tailor your recovery process to your current situation with medically assisted treatment for addiction. This is our approach toward every patient. It ensures you receive the necessary care, whether counseling, therapy, medicated-assisted treatment, or any combination. To learn more, contact us today at 203-344-0025.
What Is Medication Assisted Treatment?
Medication-assisted treatment is a program that provides those who suffer from substance abuse disorders with a recovery plan that incorporates medication, therapy, and counseling. It acknowledges that opioid recovery and alcoholism can be difficult for one’s health and seeks to mitigate harm by implementing the appropriate care to reduce relapse and promote long-term recovery.
At New Era Rehabilitation, we administer MAT as part of a patient-focused treatment plan that addresses these health concerns by providing medication to bridge the gap to sober living until the abused substance is no longer wanted or needed.
How Medication-Assisted Treatment Counseling Works
MAT works by incorporating medication treatment into a full recovery treatment plan. In addition to tailored therapy and counseling, you’ll receive MAT to help you overcome the physical and mental hold opioids have had on you by replacing them with legal, regulated medication.
The medication acts similarly to the abused substance but in far lower doses, is far less powerful, and is without the “high.” This allows the person’s body to adapt to removing the abused substance without causing physical, emotional, or mental harm.
Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Connecticut
The medications used at New Era Rehabilitation for opioid treatment and substance abuse treatment are methadone, suboxone, and buprenorphine.
Methadone Treatment CT – Methadone Clinic
Methadone is a strong opioid agonist or receiver that acts like other opioids in that it helps with pain. It doesn’t produce a euphoric high, unlike other opiates like heroin. In treatment, it’s effective at replacing such powerful opiates and easing the pain of withdrawal while reducing cravings. It’s powerful and long-acting. For MAT, it is only possible to administer methadone through a program like New Era’s that provides medication for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) because of its habit-forming nature.
Suboxone Treatment & Clinic, CT
Suboxone helps manage the pain of withdrawal while also helping manage cravings. It also acts as an “opioid effect” antagonist or blocker. This means that if someone tries to abuse opiates while using suboxone, an ingredient in suboxone called naloxone blocks the part of the drug that causes euphoria completely. Suboxone doctors in Connecticut can prescribe it, which does not require the same regulations as methadone.
Buprenorphine Treatment and Clinic CT
Buprenorphine helps with withdrawal and cravings without the euphoric high associated with opioid abuse but is much weaker than methadone. It’s a well-suited treatment option for those in recovery that don’t require the level of care methadone provides and is unlikely to relapse.
Medication for Alcoholism in Connecticut
The medications used at New Era Rehabilitation for alcohol addiction treatment include Vivitrol. Vivitrol, the brand name for Naltrexone, works by targeting the brain’s opioid receptors, which are involved in the reward system and the feelings of pleasure associated with alcohol consumption.
In outpatient Vivitrol treatment, patients receive monthly injections to control cravings while also receiving behavioral therapy, group therapy, and counseling to promote success in recovery.
What are The Benefits and Drawbacks of Medication-Assisted Therapy?
The benefits of medication-assisted treatment include the following:
- Reduces potential for serious harm or overdose
- Provides safe withdrawal management
- Implements craving controls
- Facilitates a healthy recovery process
There are potential drawbacks that come with MAT. These include:
- Implemented through a professional treatment facility
- Requires the use of strong medication
- Introduces new substances to the body that may have unforeseen physical side effects
- Risk of replacing one addiction with another
What Is Methadone Used To Treat?
Methadone is used to treat addiction to various opiates but primarily for treating long-term addiction to codeine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and heroin. It’s a powerful medication with a high potential for addiction. The only way to administer it is through a treatment program.
What is Suboxone Used to Treat?
Suboxone treats opioid addiction by acting as an “opioid antagonist.” This means it shuts down the receptors in the brain that receive the euphoric or “opioid effect.” It’s not considered habit-forming and is the preferred treatment option for most opioid recovery programs.
What is Buprenorphine Used to Treat?
Buprenorphine also treats Opioid Use Disorder. Unlike suboxone, though, buprenorphine isn’t an “opioid antagonist.” Instead, it acts much like an opioid, only at a lesser capacity, allowing a person to wean from fewer opioids while managing cravings. It’s appropriate for people who still need to manage pain without the blocking effect of suboxone.
Medication-Assisted Treatment & Therapy in CT
Our licensed experts at our Bridgeport and New Haven facilities are ready to help you get the treatment you need. Contact us today to speak with a Medication-Assisted Treatment expert.
Frequently Asked Questions
At New Era Rehabilitation Center in CT, our medication-assisted treatment begins by removing an abusive substance and replacing it with a safe medication. The medication we use as a replacement can be Methadone, Suboxone, or Buprenorphine. In addition to the use of medication, this treatment also revolves around behavioral therapy and counseling.
Some medications that healthcare specialists use in medication-assisted treatment are:
- Buprenorphine
- Methadone
- Suboxone
These drugs minimize cravings for opioids and the symptoms associated with withdrawal.
The average cost of medication-assisted treatment in CT generally ranges from $126 per week. Annually, it can cost patients around $6,552. This cost varies based on many factors, such as type of medication used in the treatment, insurance plans, and the patient’s condition. To assist our patients with the cost, we utilize different insurance networks, such as Medicaid and Medicare.
Yes, medication-assisted treatment has proven very effective for patients with addiction disorder. It is safe and efficient and has delivered a success rate of more than 90%. This indicates patients who maintained their sobriety within two years of medication-assisted treatment.
Methadone’s biggest advantage is that it reduces withdrawal symptoms. When used in a safe way, it helps patients get through the early stages of recovery safely. However, Methadone’s withdrawal symptoms are significant, and this treatment can cause heart problems, tremors, seizures, nausea, and depression in some cases.
Yes, like any medication, Suboxone has its pros and cons. Suboxone consists of Buprenorphine and Naloxone. These medications are responsible for mildly activating the brain’s reward receptors and eliminating cravings for opioids. Additionally, you can take this medication during pregnancy and lactation. Suboxone is more effective than Methadone in lowering the risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome in newborns. On the other hand, Suboxone side effects include extreme tingling, numbness, fatigue, insomnia, and blurry vision.
Buprenorphine, when taken appropriately, prevents withdrawal symptoms in drug addicts. Additionally, it does not cause a euphoric feeling. By minimizing opioid effects, Buprenorphine helps patients in recovery stabilize their lives. However, too much Buprenorphine can make it challenging to drive or operate heavy machinery. Initial intake or sudden dose change of Buprenorphine can result in accidents, so it’s better to stay put while you are on this medication.