About Medication Assisted Therapy
Medication Assisted Therapy (MATs) involves the use of FDA-approved medications in conjunction with therapy and other treatment options to help a person with a substance use disorder. Medications can be effective in helping the individual sustain recovery and preventing overdose.
Medications commonly used for MATS include Suboxone, Naltrexone, Vivitrol, and Antabuse.
The use of medications together with counseling and therapy provides a “whole-patient” approach to treatment.
How to Start Medication Assisted Therapy
During sessions with your therapist we will talk about whether or not MATs would be helpful to you. Please contact us as well if you have a particular interest in meeting with a psychiatrist for assistance with these medications or to learn more about them. We can help explore this topic with you, guide you to additional resources, and provide referrals to a psychiatrist who we feel would be the best choice for you.
We want you to be aware that some addiction psychiatrists prescribe medications very liberally, some prescribe too liberally, and some focus on getting people off medications. Some are willing to prescribe for ADD or Anxiety while prescribing Suboxone as well.
All our therapists are connected to many of the addiction psychiatrists in the Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Main Line areas. JFA founder Jeremy Frank has personally lived and worked in this region for almost 50 years. He knows multiple physicians and psychiatrists who can prescribe medication to help with your recovery.
We find it’s helpful for our patient’s recovery process that we know the doctors we refer them to. We have built up trust and we work collaboratively with them.
Approximately one third of JFA clients will see an addiction psychiatrist at some point during their treatment with us.
Resource To Learn More About MATs
SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association, includes a section on their website with detailed information about MATs.
Take the Next Step
We can help you find the treatment or therapy that will work for you. Contact the JFA office with any questions and to schedule a consultation. With the guidance and support of a therapist, you can start recovery now.
