In 2023, Tennessee ranked 5th in the nation for the highest number of opioid prescriptions per capita, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tennessee’s rate was 58.6 per 100 people, compared to the national rate of 37.5 per 100 people. If you’re one of the people with a prescription for opioids and you have an opioid use disorder (OUD), you’re not alone.
No matter how you started taking opioids, healing takes work and support. At ReVIDA® Recovery, we believe that everyone who wants to can recover. We also know that there are different routes to get there. Today, we’ll review the differences between medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, vs. traditional detox, so you have the information you need to make informed decisions about your recovery.
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Understanding How Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Works
MAT is an important part of recovery for many people. Most MAT treatment options use a medication to manage opioid cravings and other symptoms of withdrawal. With the help of MAT, you can avoid the most intense flu-like symptoms and instead focus on your recovery. Even with MAT, you’ll still experience some of the milder symptoms of opioid withdrawal, like heightened anxiety, difficulty sleeping, or digestive issues.
Buprenorphine is one of the most common MAT medications. It’s a partial opioid agonist that works by attaching itself to opioid receptors, which means that you won’t experience the full effects of opioid withdrawal. Some MAT clinics use other medications, such as naltrexone and methadone, which are both approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
These medications also have a ceiling effect, which means that they don’t give you the desired effects of opioids. Since the buprenorphine attaches itself to opioid receptors, it also blocks other opioids from producing the euphoric effects that they’re associated with.
Plus, MAT improves symptoms later down the line. As many as 90% of people with OUD will experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) at some point during their recovery. PAWS symptoms are a side effect of the brain trying to readjust to regular dopamine levels during recovery. The symptoms are largely psychological, including brain fog, mood swings, and impulse control. MAT reduces the frequency and intensity of PAWS episodes.
What Types of MAT Are Available?
There are a few different types of buprenorphine-based MAT treatments available. Two common forms are Sublocade and Suboxone. Sublocade is an extended-release buprenorphine medication. It’s a shot that’s administered by your doctor once a month. Suboxone is a daily medication that comes as a tablet or film. Its active ingredients are buprenorphine and naloxone. The naloxone is intended to prevent patients from circumventing the ceiling effect of buprenorphine.
Medications with the active ingredient naltrexone include ReVia, Depade, and the extended-release injection Vivitrol. Common brand names for methadone include Dolophine and Methadose.
What Are the Unique Benefits of MAT?
MAT empowers you to get to the root causes of your OUD more quickly than traditional detox. Ending your opioid use is just the first step towards recovery. With MAT, you can skip the worst of your withdrawals and focus on the core parts of recovery, like therapy.
Medication-assisted treatment is also associated with lower rates of return to use than traditional detox. Since the medication reduces your cravings, you have an easier time staying in control and finding long-term success in recovery.
MAT is a long-term commitment, and you’ll have a doctor who specializes in treating OUD on your team. Your MAT doctor is familiar with how recovery works and is someone you can go to without judgment. If you need to change your dose or find additional medication for your recovery, your doctor is there to support you.
Understanding How Traditional Detox Works
During traditional detox, you stop taking opioids and manage the symptoms of withdrawal without the medications used in MAT. Many people use over-the-counter medications, or those prescribed by a doctor, to treat individual symptoms such as nausea, difficulty sleeping, or muscle aches.
It is safest to do this with the support of medical professionals, who have experience working with people in recovery, so that the process is safer and more comfortable. Detoxing alone is risky. While some people do it, it’s not recommended in case you experience complications, such as dehydration, dangerous electrolyte levels, or mental health emergencies.
When you do traditional detox, you’re going to experience the full effect of opioid withdrawal. Many of the symptoms of opioid withdrawal mimic those of the flu, but can also include:
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Agitation or increased stress
- Tremors
- Anxiety and fearfulness
- Muscle aches and pains
- Intense sweating
- Yawning
- Abdominal cramping
- Diarrhea
- Dilated (large) pupils
- Changes in body temperature
- Chills
- Nausea and vomiting
What Are the Relevant Benefits of Traditional Detox?
There are a few benefits to choosing traditional detox. For one thing, traditional detox sets the stage for recovery. While MAT allows you to focus on therapy faster, detox forces you to slow down and face this stage of recovery head-on. During this time, you have space for reflection and get motivated to avoid returning to use.
In traditional detox, you don’t have to manage medication. Once you complete your initial detox, you don’t have to continue to have medical intervention. This reduces the time you have to spend on doctor’s appointments. However, it also means you don’t have this form of support.
Key Differences Between MAT and Traditional Detox
The biggest difference between MAT and traditional detox is the use of medication. There are a few other key differences. In the chart below, we’ll review what makes each form of treatment unique.
| Question | Medication Assisted Treatment | Traditional Detox |
|---|---|---|
| Is it appropriate for all substance use disorders? | Buprenorphine is used to treat opioid use disorder. Other forms of MAT are sometimes used to treat alcohol use disorder. | Detox looks essentially the same for a wide variety of substance use disorders. |
| Does treatment prevent a return to use? | MAT for OUD has a low return-to-use rate. | The return-to-use rate for OUD is higher with traditional detox than with MAT. However, many people find success with the appropriate support. |
| Is medical supervision required? | Yes, medical supervision is always required. | Medical supervision is recommended, but some people successfully detox without it. |
| How is withdrawal managed? | Medication is used to reduce the severity of symptoms. While it’s not possible to guarantee that you’ll experience no symptoms, they will be much easier to manage. | You go through withdrawals naturally, without using medication to reduce symptoms. In some cases, you may choose to use over-the-counter medication to improve certain symptoms, like Tylenol for muscle aches. |
How to Know if MAT or Traditional Detox Is Right for You
Deciding between MAT and traditional detox depends on your goals for recovery. MAT is a good fit if you want to limit the extent of your withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
However, some people want to go through the process of detoxing from opioids without the support of MAT. If you feel you can manage your withdrawal symptoms without medical intervention, traditional detox might be a better fit for you.
If you’re not sure which route is right for you, that’s okay. Recovery is a process, and it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you’ve started with traditional detox and are worried about returning to use, transitioning to MAT might be right for you.
There is no shame in either choice. It’s not a matter of what’s right or wrong. It simply comes down to your personal preferences.
Treatment doesn’t end with traditional detox or MAT. Regardless of the route you choose, recovery is a big commitment, and you’ll need support to be successful. Individual therapy empowers you to find the underlying causes of your OUD, and a trusted therapist will work with you to find healthier coping mechanisms. Group therapy will enable you to make connections with others in recovery. You’ll find a path toward healing, supporting each other through periods of adjustment, and celebrating wins together.
MAT at ReVIDA® Recovery in Appalachia
No matter what kind of treatment for opioid use disorder you decide is right for you, choosing recovery is an important step. Whether you choose MAT or the traditional detox process, you deserve the opportunity to heal, and you are capable of finding success in recovery.
The right support system will give you the tools you need to reclaim your life from opioid use disorder. What that looks like is personal, and you deserve to make the decision that works for you so you can build the life you want.
ReVIDA® Recovery will support you at every stage of your recovery from OUD. Every one of our patients receives MAT to treat OUD, so when you walk into a ReVIDA® treatment center, you know you’re in a judgment-free zone. Plus, your care coordinator will connect you with important resources, including SNAP, housing support, and more. To start your recovery journey, call us at 423-631-0432 and learn more.
ReVIDA® Recovery: Reclaim your life.
