Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medications Used in MAT

For Opioid Use Disorder

Buprenorphine (Suboxone): A partial opioid agonist that reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the full euphoric effect of opioids. Buprenorphine is commonly prescribed in combination with naloxone to deter misuse.

Naltrexone (Vivitrol): An opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids at receptor sites, eliminating the reward response if opioids are used. Available as a monthly injectable, which eliminates the compliance issues associated with daily oral medications.

For Alcohol Use Disorder

Naltrexone: Also used for alcohol use disorder, naltrexone reduces the pleasurable effects of alcohol and decreases cravings. Available in both oral and injectable forms.

Acamprosate: Helps reduce anxiety and discomfort associated with early alcohol abstinence.

Disulfiram (Antabuse): Creates an unpleasant physical reaction when alcohol is consumed, functioning as a deterrent.

MAT and Counseling — Why Both Matter

MAT is most effective when combined with counseling and behavioral support. Medication addresses the neurological dimensions of addiction — the cravings, the withdrawal, the altered brain chemistry. Counseling addresses the psychological, relational, and behavioral dimensions. Together, they address addiction as the complex, multi-dimensional condition it is.

At Shepherd, MAT is always integrated within a broader treatment plan that includes individual therapy, group programming, and case management. No one receives medication management in isolation from clinical support.

Addressing Common Concerns About MAT

MAT is sometimes misunderstood, including within faith communities. The concern is that it substitutes one drug for another. This misunderstands both the nature of addiction and how MAT works.

When used as prescribed, MAT medications do not produce euphoria. They stabilize brain chemistry, reduce the physiological symptoms that drive drug-seeking behavior, and create a window in which real therapeutic work can happen. The research is clear: MAT saves lives and improves outcomes. Withholding it from people who need it is not a moral position — it is a clinical mistake.

At Shepherd, our faith-informed perspective holds that every tool that genuinely helps restore a person’s life is worth considering seriously. We evaluate MAT clinically, individually, and in dialogue with each client’s values and goals.