medication-assisted treatment
Also written as: MAT — Medication-Assisted Treatment
Treatment approach combining FDA-approved medications with counseling for substance use disorders.
Full Definition
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based approach to treating substance use disorders that combines FDA-approved medications with behavioral therapies and counseling. MAT is particularly effective for opioid use disorder, using medications like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone. The approach addresses the whole patient, not just the addiction, and has been shown to improve patient survival, increase retention in treatment, and decrease illicit drug use.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate when used as an adjective; note the distinction from 'medication-aided treatment' which is less precise.
In Context
- "The clinic expanded its medication-assisted treatment program to serve more patients with opioid use disorder." — treatment center report
- "Research demonstrates that medication-assisted treatment significantly reduces overdose mortality rates." — clinical study publication