Medication-Assisted Treatment
Also written as: MAT — Medication-Assisted Treatment
The use of FDA-approved medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to treat substance use disorders, particularly opioid and alcohol use disorders.
Full Definition
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) combines pharmacological agents—such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone for opioid use disorder, or acamprosate and disulfiram for alcohol use disorder—with psychosocial counseling and support services. The 'assisted' framing has been critiqued by some clinicians and advocacy groups who argue it implies medication is secondary rather than a primary evidence-based treatment; the alternative term 'medications for opioid use disorder' (MOUD) is increasingly preferred in academic and policy contexts. SAMHSA sets federal standards for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) that use MAT. Editors must be attentive to the evolving preferred terminology: current SAMHSA and federal agency guidance is shifting toward 'MOUD' for opioid-specific contexts and away from 'MAT,' but 'MAT' remains widespread in clinical settings and payer documents.
Usage
Usage note: Note the terminology shift: SAMHSA and many federal documents now prefer 'MOUD' when referring specifically to opioid use disorder pharmacotherapy. Retain 'MAT' only when the source document uses it or when the client's house style specifies it. Always spell out on first use.
In Context
- "The opioid treatment program's MAT protocol combined daily methadone dispensing with weekly individual counseling sessions." — Program description report
- "The editorial team flagged 'medication-assisted treatment' for review, noting that the agency's updated style guide now requires 'MOUD' in all clinical policy documents." — Editorial revision memo