Medication-assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT) combines the use of medications and behavioral therapy to people with substance use disorders. MAT is a safe and effective option to provide physical relief from opioid cravings—it is even safe for women who are pregnant.

WellSpan providers and a network of community partners offer this safe, effective treatment across Adams, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Contact our 24/7 access center at 1-844-Philhaven (1-844-744-5428) for a referral to the right care team for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is MAT? Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines the use of medications and behavioral therapy to treat people who have substance use disorders. The use of certain types of medications, like buprenorphine, suboxone, naltrexone, and methadone, has become a central part of the treatment of opioid use disorders.
• Are MAT drugs just substituting one addiction for another? MAT drugs DO NOT substitute one addiction for another. When someone is treated for an opioid addiction, the dosage of medication used does not get them high–it helps reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal. These medications restore balance to the brain circuits affected by addiction, allowing the patient’s brain to heal while working toward recovery.
• Is MAT the right treatment for anyone who suffers from opioid use disorder? MAT is one of many options for treating opioid use disorders. No single option is appropriate for everyone. MAT is an adjunctive treatment or assistive therapy to the overall treatment of a person with a substance use disorder. MAT will not "cure" the person's addiction or ensure success in recovery unless the person additionally engages in behavioral treatments such as counseling, therapy, social support and long-term aftercare.
• How do MAT drugs work? Opioids alter the chemistry of the brain by attaching to opioid receptors. When the prescribed MAT drugs attach to their receptors, they reduce the perception of pain.
• Do patients in MAT ever relapse? Because relapse is very common in all forms of substance use disorders, people who relapse at one stage of the process are encouraged to start over. For many people with substance use disorders, relapse is a learning experience that can be built upon to achieve success, as opposed to being viewed as a failure or an inability to recover from their substance use disorder.

For additional information call 1-844-PHILHAVEN.