Medically Assistance Treatment Programming

Suboxone® (buprenorphine)

Suboxone® (buprenorphine) is an option for our patients suffering from severe opiate use dependency. Pain medications, like codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone, can be highly addictive. These pain medications and other drugs like morphine and heroin are classified as opiates. If you or someone you know is struggling with opiate dependency, we can help. Affiliated Clinical Services (ACS), Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) provides therapeutic interventions, including medication to reduce physical and psychological cravings for opiates to help our patients benefit fully from treatment.

Suboxone® (buprenorphine) is an FDA approved opioid partial agonist. An agonist is a chemical that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell. Agonists often mimic the action of a naturally occurring substance. At low doses, buprenorphine produces sufficient agonist effects to enable opiate-addicted individuals to discontinue the use of opiates without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Medication Assisted Treatment will be provided in an intensive outpatient treatment setting.

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ACS’s Co-Occurring Chemical Dependency treatment programs offers day and evening programming that blends MAT patients into our treatment programs. In addition to our core programming, a MAT agreement detailing Suboxone® use expectations, drug testing, random drug recall, and medication safety procedures are followed. ACS utilizes a tapering protocol based on a patient’s need while they complete our outpatient treatment programming.

Because of Suboxone® (buprenorphine) opioid effects, it can be misused, particularly by people who do not have an opioid dependency. Naloxone is added to buprenorphine to decrease the likelihood of diversion and misuse of the combination drug product. When these products are taken as sublingual tablets, buprenorphine’s opioid effects dominate and naloxone blocks opioid withdrawals. If the sublingual tablets are crushed and injected, however, the naloxone effect dominates and can bring on opioid withdrawals. ACS takes a firm stance in our Buprenorphine Programming. If you or a loved one wishes to engage in this portion of our programming, you would be expected to attend our Intensive Outpatient Program in conjunction with your Buprenorphine treatment. Patients will be approved for MAT based on recommendations from their Chemical Dependency evaluation and approval from our MAT prescribing physician.

Other team members will include Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Licensed Psychologist and a Mental Health Professional.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone is a medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to treat both opioid and alcohol use disorders.

This medication was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid use disorders and alcohol use disorders. It comes in a pill form or as an injectable. The pill form of naltrexone (ReVia, Depade) can be taken at 50 mg once per day. The injectable extended-release form of the drug (Vivitrol) is administered at 380 mg intramuscular once a month. Naltrexone can be prescribed by any health care provider who is licensed to prescribe medications. To reduce the risk of precipitated withdrawal, patients are warned to abstain from illegal opioids and opioid medication for a minimum of 7-10 days before starting naltrexone. If switching from methadone to naltrexone, the patient has to be completely withdrawn from the opioids.

As with all medications used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT), naltrexone is to be prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes counseling and participation in social support programs.

MAT Programming

Medically Assistance Treatment Programming

Suboxone® (buprenorphine)

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Naltrexone

Affiliated Clinical Services

West Bend Office

Hartford Office

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