Medication-Assisted Treatment in Orange County

The overall goal of Medication-assisted treatment is to help patients return to their normal lives and stay productive. A recovery plan that includes both MAT and behavioral therapies can increase your chances of successfully recovering from addiction.

MAT can help with:

• Controlling substance cravings
• Increasing treatment retention rates
• Increasing patient survival rates
• Preventing relapse

Approved medications work by normalizing brain chemistry, blocking the euphoric effects of opioids and/or alcohol, reducing or relieving cravings, and normalizing bodily functions.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) uses FDA-approved medications alongside behavioral therapies to treat addiction. This integrated approach has been shown to be effective in addressing certain substance use disorders. It works by managing physical symptoms related to substance use or withdrawal through medication, while also providing therapeutic support to address the psychological, emotional, and mental aspects of addiction.

Patients typically begin with medical detox to stabilize withdrawal, then move into a rehabilitation phase focused on building coping skills for life challenges. Throughout treatment, medication and therapy are used together. After rehab, patients transition to maintenance care, relying mainly on medication for long-term management of substance use disorder.

Before starting medication-assisted treatment at Dream Recovery, individuals are carefully evaluated by our physician, who uses the assessment to decide the most suitable treatment plan and level of care, including selecting the medications that best fit your specific needs.

MAT medications that our clients may receive depends on the type of substance use disorder being treated. MAT can be used to treat alcohol and opioid use disorder.

Medications Used to Help You Stop Drinking Alcohol

• Acamprosate – This helps people who are already in recovery avoid alcohol use. Acamprosate does not prevent use, but decreases cravings for alcohol by restoring chemical balance in the brain.
• Disulfiram – This is designed to prevent drinking behavior in people who have already detoxed or have began abstinence. It causes unpleasant symptoms if you drink, so it can help decrease relapse risks when taken daily.
• Naltrexone – Binds to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking them from receiving substances. By blocking these receptors, it diminishes the reinforcement or “reward” sensation from alcohol and opioids, suppressing cravings.

Medications Used to Help You Stop Misusing Opioids

• Suboxone – Is a prescription medication used to treat opioid addiction by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It combines a partial opioid agonist (buprenorphine) with an antagonist (naloxone).
• Subutex (Buprenorphine) – Used in the early stages of opioid addiction treatment, designed to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. As a partial opioid agonist, it activates brain receptors enough to prevent withdrawal without causing significant euphoria.
• Sublocade – A once-monthly, prescription-only, subcutaneous injection designed for moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder. It provides consistent medication levels, reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
• Natrexone – This opioid receptor antagonist blocks the euphoric and sedating effects of opioids. It may help to suppress opioid cravings and discourage continued opioid misuse.

We only use evidence-based approaches combined with exceptional clinical services. We have the best team who have the compassion and dedication to help each patient recover. Get in touch with Dream Recovery in Costa Mesa today for a consultation.