Medication-Assisted Treatment Programs
At SJRP we use a variety of medication-assisted treatment programs in conjunction with therapy, behavior modification, support, and lifestyle change to help clients achieve success in recovery. Clients that come to our Florida drug and alcohol rehab center will experience a unique outlook that they may not be accustomed to. Many having been to treatment before state that SJRP is “different” and that the staff are all just so “much nicer” than other places. We work hard to provide a unique experience for clients. An experience where they feel safe, loved, and accepted. An experience where they can embark on a treatment journey all their own — and experience recovery like never before.
To learn more about medication-assisted treatment and the various therapeutic approaches that may be incorporated into your treatment plan here at SJRP, give our admissions team a call at 833-397-3422. While we may not be able to specify your treatment plan (that’s for our medical team to determine), we can certainly help you better understand why SJRP is the addiction and recovery center that will help you turn your life around — once and for all! We look forward to having you as part of the SJRP family.
Vivitrol
A once-monthly, long-acting treatment for opioid or alcohol dependence, Vivitrol is an injectable form of Naltrexone that can aid in long-term recovery.
Naloxone
Administered in the event of opioid overdose to promote life-saving opioid overdose reversal, Naloxone is a widely accepted treatment for opioid overdose.
Suboxone
A mix of buprenorphine and naloxone that is used to reduce opioid cravings, Suboxone treatment is a common maintenance medication for opioid users.
Medication-Assisted Treatment at SJRP
At St. John’s Recovery Place we do not believe that strict abstinence is the way to recovery — at least not in the immediate days following the decision to quit using drugs or alcohol. We firmly believe in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs and their ability to help clients achieve long term recovery success. When you come to our drug and alcohol rehab in Florida, you will be treated with compassion and care as well as with the understanding that detox without medication is not conducive to comfort and healing. It’s not to say that every client receives medication or that a specific medication protocol is used 100% of the time, but that each client is treated with care and compassion and that medication-assisted treatment is commonly used as the stepping stone to sobriety here at SJRP.
Florida rehab centers didn’t always use medication as a stepping stone. In fact, many early treatment centers were founded on the premise that complete abstinence was the key to sobriety. The idea was to teach clients how to learn skills that would help them to stay sober while they maintained complete abstinence throughout their stay in treatment. Unfortunately, the lack of medication-assisted treatment resulted in many choosing to forego treatment for fear of the pain and suffering that was likely without medication support.
Research clearly shows the value in medication-assisted treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. In fact, the use of medications to prevent early termination of treatment & to support the recovery and healing process has been proven to increase the duration of time that people remain in treatment & to prevent overdose deaths. Put simply, medication-assisted treatment saves lives!
What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) refers to the supervised administration of prescribed medications that are used to reduce symptoms of withdrawal, drug or alcohol cravings, or the physical symptoms of addiction that may make it difficult for a client to focus on his or her recovery and healing.
Clients struggling with alcohol use disorders and opiate use disorders are most likely to receive medication-assisted treatment at SJRP. This is considered the gold standard in care throughout most drug detox centers in Florida now and it’s certainly the most common protocol at St. John’s Recovery Place.
Clients will receive medication-assisted treatment as prescribed by our medical team. This helps most clients to begin to engage in their treatment services during the first 48 hours following their admission intake. Early and consistent engagement in treatment is key to your recovery and healing. MAT at St. John’s Recovery Place is combined with various forms of psychotherapy, relapse prevention techniques, and interactive individual and group therapy programs to provide clients with a solid foundation upon which they can recover from addiction.
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Abuse
FDA approved medications used to help those suffering from alcohol use disorder range from disulfiram to acamprosate and naltrexone. Medications such as the once-monthly Vivitrol injection and oral Naltrexone products are commonly prescribed to clients struggling with alcohol addiction at SJRP.
The exact dose, frequency, or timeframe upon which clients are prescribed medications such as naltrexone for alcohol addiction at SJRP will vary based on individual need. Our medical team evaluates each client independently to determine the appropriate protocol of medications to be utilized during alcohol detox and in our alcohol addiction treatment program.
Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Abuse
Several medications have been approved by the FDA to treat opioid use disorders. Clients struggling with OUD receive medications at St. John’s Recovery Place to help ward off cravings, minimize withdrawal symptoms and improve the chances that they will remain in treatment through opiate detox and the early weeks of recovery. Common medications used to treat opiate addiction at SJRP include:
- Buprenorphine
- Naltrexone
- Naloxone
- Vivitrol
In addition to these FDA approved medications, some centers also utilize medications such as Methadone, Methadose, Probuphine, Cassipa and various other FDA approved treatments for OUD.
Is Medication-Assisted Treatment Successful?
Medication-assisted treatment can be highly successful when it is employed alongside conventional therapy and treatment modalities. MAT is widely accepted in the treatment industry and considered a gold standard both among medical professionals and among treatment professionals throughout Florida rehab centers & nationwide.
Medication-assisted treatment can successfully lead clients to recovery. Statistically, clients who engage in medication-assisted treatment protocols are more likely to remain in treatment longer, to focus more on their recovery & healing, and to remain sober after they are discharged from St. John’s Recovery Place or from any other treatment facility.
Not only is MAT successful, it has also been found to reduce the chance of fatal opioid overdose by approximately 50%. Statistically, medication-assisted treatment, although a successful regimen of care, is only provided at about half of the treatment centers found in the United States, and SJRP is one of them.
What to Expect
Entering treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol can be a scary time, especially as fear of the unknown places limitations on your comfort and heightens your anxiety. We totally understand!
When you come to our Florida addiction and recovery center you can expect to be treated with care and compassion with each step you take towards recovery at SJRP. Upon your arrival our BHT (Behavioral Health Technician) will perform an intake assessment with you. During this time a series of screening and diagnostic questions will be asked to help us establish a better understanding of your substance use disorder & use patterns.
Our medical team will then immediately get to work formulating a plan of treatment for you, including the use of any possibly medication-assisted treatment options to limit your symptoms of withdrawal & help you to feel comfortable during your time here. The clinical team is the only crew that can appropriately determine whether you are a good candidate for MAT and, if so, what medications will be prescribed to treat you.
Please keep in mind that your treatment will likely change from day to day based on your individual needs. If additional comfort meds are necessary, the medical team will stand by your side to help you feel comfortable during your stay so that you can engage in our evidence-based psychotherapy sessions (usually within the first 24-48 hours following your admission).
Once our medical team establishes a medication-assisted treatment plan for you the clinical team will continue to advocate for you and to assist you in the healing process. We cannot specify a predetermined amount of time for MAT as each client is unique and each treatment plan varies greatly. Generally speaking, your medication dose will be decreased gradually as your symptoms subside and you begin to establish safe, healthy coping mechanisms and routines.
If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction to drugs or alcohol, consider medication-assisted treatment options at our Florida drug and alcohol addiction center. St. John’s Recovery Place can help you fully understand your addiction treatment process and the next steps of your recovery. Call our admissions team at 833-397-3422 today to begin your journey to recovery and healing.