#medication-assisted treatment Tag

03 Sep

Posted at 10:44h in Addiction, Author Interviews
[caption id="attachment_70512" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Medication-Assisted Treatment in Rural Emergency Departments Photo by Erik Mclean[/caption]

Why Medication-Assisted Treatment Matters

Opioid use disorder continues to harm communities across the United States. In 2023, more than 80,000 people died from opioid overdoses according to CDC data. Rural towns have been hit especially hard. Emergency departments in these areas are often the only place where patients can get immediate help. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is one of the most effective tools for treating opioid addiction. It combines medicines like buprenorphine or methadone with counseling. Studies show MAT reduces opioid use, lowers overdose risk, and improves long-term recovery rates. Patients who receive MAT are twice as likely to stay in treatment compared to those who do not. Emergency rooms see many patients in crisis. They are a critical access point for starting MAT. Yet, many rural hospitals still face major barriers when trying to use it.

17 May

Posted at 11:14h in Addiction, Alcohol
[caption id="attachment_68585" align="aligncenter" width="500"]drug-to-reduce-alcohol-cravings Source[/caption] For many individuals struggling with alcohol use, stopping isn’t just about willpower—it’s about biology. Alcohol changes the brain's reward system, making it harder to resist cravings even after someone decides to quit. That’s why, for some people, adding a drug to reduce alcohol cravings can be a game-changing part of recovery. So, what medications are available, and how do they work? Here’s what science—and real-world treatment—has to say.