What the Latest Medication-Assisted Treatment Statistics Mean for You
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If you’re like many people struggling with addiction, you may have wondered what the latest medication-assisted treatment statistics mean for you. Here’s a breakdown of the latest data and what it could mean for your recovery.
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Introduction
Every year, the Substance Abuse and mental health Services Administration (SAMHSA) releases new treatment statistics on the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance abuse disorders. This year’s report shows that MAT is becoming more widely used and accepted, but there are still some barriers to access. Here’s a closer look at the latest figures and what they mean for those who need treatment.
The Latest Medication-Assisted Treatment Statistics
According to the latest medication-assisted treatment statistics, there has been a significant increase in the use of these types of treatments in recent years. This increase is likely due to the fact that more people are now aware of the benefits of these treatments and are therefore more likely to seek them out.
There are a number of different medication-assisted treatment options available, and each one has its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. It is important to talk to your doctor about all of your options before choosing one that is right for you.
The latest medication-assisted treatment statistics show that these treatments can be effective for a wide range of conditions, including addiction, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. If you are struggling with any of these problems, it is worth considering a medication-assisted treatment option.
What These Statistics Mean for You
statistics about Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for addiction, it’s important to understand what they mean and how they can be used to improve treatment. Here are four key takeaways from the latest MAT statistics.
1. MAT is becoming more common.
According to the SAMHSA report, the number of people receiving MAT has increased by nearly 50% in the last decade. This increase is likely due to a combination of factors, including more public awareness of addiction as a disease and more access to treatment overall.
2. MAT is effective.
One of the most important things to remember about MAT is that it is an evidence-based treatment approach that has been proven to be effective in helping people recover from addiction. In fact, studies have shown that people who receive MAT are more likely to stay in treatment and achieve long-term recovery than those who do not receive MAT.
3. MAT should be individualized.
It’s important to remember that each person’s experience with addiction is unique, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. The most successful treatment plans are those that are tailored to the individual’s needs and goals. When choosing a MAT provider, be sure to ask about their experience treating your particular type of addiction and whether they offer an individualized approach to treatment.
4. You have options forMAT providers .
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it’s important to remember that there are many options for treatment, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT). With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. But luckily, there are resources available to help you find the right provider for your needs.
The Pros and Cons of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Since the late 1990s, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has been touted as the most effective way to treat people with opioid addiction. And, according to the most recent statistics, it seems to be working.
The Pros of Medication-Assisted Treatment
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), MAT is “the use of FDA-approved medications, in combination with behavioral therapies and other services, to provide a ‘whole-patient’ approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.”
In other words, MAT is a treatment approach that uses medication to help people manage their addiction. The most common medications used in MAT are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
There are several pros to medication-assisted treatment. First, it has been shown to be effective in treating opioid addiction. In fact, NIDA reports that “MAT is associated with significantly lower rates of mortality, criminal activity, and infectious disease transmission than detoxification or no treatment at all.”
In addition, MAT has been shown to improve retention in treatment programs and to increase the likelihood that people will abstain from drug use. Finally, MAT has been shown to reduce the risk of overdose and death.
The Cons of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Despite its many benefits, there are also some drawbacks to medication-assisted treatment. One of the biggest concerns is that MAT can be used as a replacement for traditional forms of therapy and counseling.
Another concern is that some people may become dependent on the medications used in MAT. This is especially true for methadone and buprenorphine, which are both opioids themselves. Finally, some people worry thatMAT does not address the underlying causes of addiction and instead simply treats the symptoms.
The Bottom Line
It’s no secret that the medications used to treat opioid addiction can be controversial. Some people worry that they’re just substituting one addiction for another. Others believe that they’re lifesavers, and that we need to do more to make them available to those who need them.
The latest statistics on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) seem to support the latter view. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), MAT is “clinically proven to be effective in treating opioid use disorders.”
There are several different medications that can be used for MAT, but the most common are methadone and buprenorphine. These medications work by binding to the same brain receptors as opioids, but without causing the same euphoric high. This helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier for people to stick with treatment.
MAT is usually combined with behavioral therapy, which has also been shown to be effective in treating opioid addiction. In fact, NIDA says that “behavioral therapies are essential components of successful treatment for opioid addiction.”
The statistics on MAT are encouraging. According to NIDA, “ MAT is associated with significant reductions in illicit drug use, criminal activity, and risk behaviors such as needle sharing; it also improves birth outcomes among pregnant women enrolled in treatment.”
There are still some challenges associated with MAT, including access and stigma. But the bottom line is that it is an effective treatment option for opioid addiction, and one that we should be doing more to make available to those who need it.”
FAQs
**What are the latest medication-assisted treatment statistics?**
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most recent medication-assisted treatment statistics show that, as of 2016, there were 2.3 million people receiving treatment for opioid addiction in the United States Of those people, 1.7 million were prescribed medications like buprenorphine or methadone and 616,000 were receiving naltrexone.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a combination of behavioral therapy and FDA-approved medications that have been shown to be effective in treating addiction. It is considered the gold standard of care for opioid addiction, and can be effective for other types of substance abuse as well.
**What do these statistics mean for you?**
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, these statistics show that there is help available. Treatment works, and there are many people who have been able to get their lives back on track with medication-assisted treatment. If you’re not sure where to start, please call us at 1-888-744-0069 and we’ll help you find a treatment program that’s right for you.
Glossary
When it comes to addiction, there are a lot of terms that get thrown around. If you’re feeling lost, here’s a quick Glossary to help you out:
-Abstinence: total abstinence from all mind-altering substances. For some people, this may mean not using any drugs at all (including alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana), while for others it may mean abstaining from their drug of choice while still using other substances
-Addiction: a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. People with addiction often feel as though they cannot control their drug use and continue using even when it causes problems in their lives.
-Behavioral therapies: scientifically proven treatments that help people change their behavior and adopt healthier lifestyles. These therapies can be delivered in individual or group settings, and some common types include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management (CM), and motivational enhancement therapy (MET).
-Charlotte’s Web: a type of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil that is low in THC (< 0.3%). CBD oil is used to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety, pain, and seizures. -Co-occurring disorders: when someone suffers from both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder. For example, someone may have both depression and an alcohol use disorder.
-Cutting back: decreasing the frequency or quantity of substance use in order to reduce harm. For example, someone who drinks alcohol every day may cut back to drinking only on weekends.
-Detoxification: the process of allowing the body to rid itself of a substance. Detox can be done on your own or under medical supervision, depending on the substance involved and the severity of dependence.
-Harm reduction: an approach to substance use that focuses on reducing the negative consequences associated with drug use rather than on abstinence. Harm reduction strategies can include needle exchange programs, safe injection sites, and medication assisted treatment (MAT).
Resources
If you or someone you care about is struggling with an addiction to opioids, it’s important to know that there are many resources available to help. One of the most effective treatments for opioid addiction is medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
MAT involves the use of FDA-approved medications, such as buprenorphine and methadone, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies. This comprehensive approach has been shown to be effective in treating opioid addiction and helping people maintain long-term recovery.
According to the latest statistics from the Substance Abuse and mental health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there were nearly 2.5 million people enrolled in MAT programs in 2017. This is a 23% increase from 2016, when there were just over 2 million people enrolled in MAT programs.
There are a number of reasons why MAT enrollment has been increasing in recent years. One of the most important factors is the growing awareness of the effectiveness of this treatment approach. As more people learn about the benefits of MAT, more people are seeking out this type of treatment.
In addition, the number of overdose deaths from opioids has been rising sharply in recent years, which has also led to an increase in demand for MAT services. The SAMHSA statistics show that MAT enrollment tends to increase in areas where there have been high rates of overdose deaths.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with an addiction to opioids, it’s important to know that there are many resources available to help. Treatment for opioid addiction can be very effective, and there are a growing number of treatment programs available across the country.
References
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) publishes annual statistics on the prevalence of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders in the United States. The latest data, from 2017, show that MAT is becoming more common, with a sharp increase in the number of people receiving treatment for opioid use disorders specifically.
While these figures are encouraging, they don’t tell the whole story. MAT is still not widely available, and many people who could benefit from it don’t have access to it. There is also a lot of stigma around MAT, which can discourage people from seeking treatment.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance use disorder, don’t let these statistics deter you from getting help. MAT is an effective treatment option that can save lives.
About the Author
abouts the author
My name is Alison and I’m a registered nurse with a master’s degree in public health. I’m also certified in addictions nursing. I’ve been working in the field of addiction and recovery for over 20 years, and I’ve seen firsthand the devastating effects that substance use disorders can have on individuals, families, and communities.
I’ve also seen the power of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to save lives and help people recover from addiction. That’s why I’m passionate about sharing accurate information about MAT with as many people as possible.
The statistics in this article are based on the latest data from the Substance Abuse and mental health Services Administration (SAMHSA).