Link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wood-light-spoon-dark-7230218/
Opioid overdose claims hundreds of lives in the US every week. And while Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) has shown positive results, it's fast becoming a double-edged sword.
As a science-backed approach for treating substance dependence, MAT uses FDA-approved drugs, counseling, and behavioral therapy. Popular MAT medicines, including Naltrexone, Antabuse, and Campral, are a gold standard in treating alcohol dependence. Methadone and Buprenorphine (along with Naltrexone in some cases) are often prescribed to treat opioid addiction.
Still, a good number of individuals are reeling from the side effects. Take Buprenorphine, for instance, leading to severe tooth decay and dental damage. In recent years, an increasing number of patient families have come forward to file lawsuits.
If your healthcare provider has recently got you started on MAT, it makes sense to know the odds. This article revisits MAT for substance abuse, its safety and success rate, the dark side, and the stigma.
Traditional substance addiction treatment singularly focuses on controlling cravings and withdrawal symptoms. But MAT takes a different stance. It treats opioid addiction by blocking the direct euphoric effect using medicines and behavioral therapy. For what matters, MAT is a comprehensive treatment option that ticks all the boxes.
A healthcare provider takes into account a patient's early and current life to set the right course of MAT. After the initial assessment, medication needs are discussed. Doctors can pick one or more medicines depending on the level of addiction.
Next comes the treatment involving regular check-ups and dosage adjustments. Coupled with personal counseling, doctors focus on changing a patient's mindset, boosting their coping skills, and breaking substance dependency.
Contrary to what many would like to believe, MAT is far from a conventional addiction relief approach. It takes into consideration both medical and emotional aspects. That’s why MAT can be a lifetime option for many, as stopping it midway increases the chance of relapse.
Multiple research studies have shown the effectiveness of MAT drugs, including non-blinded randomized trials. Starting with Methadone, the safe dose for opioid-tolerant patients is now fixed at 10 mg orally to manage pain.
Naltrexone, a relatively new medication, showed no less than a 100% retention rate for incarcerated patients. It resulted in a median relapse rate between four and nine weeks after release. For Buprenorphine, an opioid analgesic, the recommended dosage of 4-24mg was effective to induce moderate to heavy withdrawal.
Combined with counseling and behavioral therapies, MAT medications have shown impressive outcomes.
No medicinal approach is ideal when treating substance abuse. MAT is no exception either, for obvious reasons.
The FDA already issued a warning against Buprenorphine in 2022 after several cases of tooth decay. But things went south with a Suboxone lawsuit where plaintiffs alleged that the manufacturers always knew about the potential dangers.
According to TruLaw, the accusations against Indivior, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, and Aquestive Therapeutics were filed citing anecdotal evidence. Reportedly, patients have been discussing their dental erosion issue after using Suboxone oral films in support groups and forums. The lawsuits also raise a finger at the integrity of pharmaceutical companies staying mum and choosing profit margins over public safety.
Undeniably, substance dependence treatment is a different ball game. Here, patient recovery takes center stage, but at a level one feels comfortable. For those incapable of abstinence, MAT or pharmacotherapy, despite its blemishes, is the only fighting chance.
From controlling cravings to inducing withdrawals, short-term MAT has been a game-changer. It has not only brought down the cases of fatal overdose but also helped people make a strong rebound. Several individuals have returned to regular employment, regained confidence, and no longer feel desperate. And these, by all means, are valuable wins that outweigh the side effects of the treatment.
