Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, often in combination with counseling and possibly help from a person with lived experience of managing addiction. These services provide a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research shows that a combination of medication and therapy can successfully treat these disorders. For that reason, MAT has become the most recommended treatment, and many people struggling with the disease of addiction say that MAT has helped them sustain their recovery. You can receive MAT in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Naloxone is an especially important medication used to “reverse” an opioid overdose and save someone’s life. All people in New Jersey who want to have naloxone to prevent crisis can buy NARCAN© kits over-the-counter from their pharmacy or attend a specialized training available from New Jersey’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. More information is available at https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhas/initiatives/naloxone.html

Another medication to consider is nicotine-replacement therapy, or NRT. More and more people who manage substance use disorders want to add this treatment, so they can also quit smoking. Our field is making a lot of progress in NRT, and many people say that they appreciate it when doctors or nurses help them get NRT as a part of their overall recovery.