FAQ on MAT

Measurement of success in treating addiction is generally based on an individual’s needs and goals as structured within their unique care plan for recovery. One measure of success will be for patients to achieve the goals and objectives specified in their plan of care activities. This may include their ability to regain meaningful employment or possibly rebuild familial relationships.

Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Because of the progressive nature of addiction, disability or premature death often result if an individual is not able to access treatment or engage in appropriate recovery activities.

Medication-Assisted Treatment cuts the risk of death from overdose in half compared to people in counseling alone, or not in treatment.3

* 3 Source: Pierce, M., Bird, S. M., Hickman, M., Marsden, J., Dunn, G., Jones, A., and Millar, T. (2016) Impact of treatment for

Medication Assisted Treatment is the Medical Standard of Care for the treatment of opioid use disorder and is the single most effective treatment according to the FDA.

Of the 20 patients participating in the study referenced in the figure below, all participated in behavioral health counseling, but only 10 received the FDA-approved medication. Of those who received both the medication and the behavioral health counseling, 75% were retained in the first year and tested negative for drugs during that year. Unfortunately, the study ended short because 20% of the patients who did not receive the medication had died in the first year. 100% of the patients who did not receive the medication relapsed (shown in red on the diagram).