Mountainside Offers Medication-Assisted Treatment

Published on October 19, 2016
Mountainside Canaan Aerial Shot

Canaan, CT — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 130 people die each day from drug overdoses, and more than three out of five of these deaths involve an opioid. With so many lives at risk, Mountainside Treatment Center has incorporated another innovative and proven addiction offering into its portfolio of evidence-based therapies: Medication-Assisted Treatment (“MAT”).

“At Mountainside, we are committed to individualized treatment and strive to provide everyone in our care access to therapies that best address their needs. Addiction medications have been proven to be truly effective for a particular segment of the population addicted to opiates. Our new MAT program will enable us to markedly improve outcomes for those clients,” said Medical Director Dr. Randall Dwenger.

Offered through its Outpatient Services, Mountainside’s MAT program prescribes buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®) to help treat opioid dependence and naltrexone (Vivitrol®) to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. The medicines are offered in combination with clinical and psychological support — key building blocks for a sustainable recovery. Clients participate in the MAT program for six months, with the goal of tapering off of the medicines within that time frame.

“At Mountainside, we are committed to individualized treatment and strive to provide everyone in our care access to therapies that best address their needs. Addiction medications have been proven to be truly effective for a particular segment of the population addicted to opiates. Our new MAT program will enable us to markedly improve outcomes for those clients,” explains Dr. Randall Dwenger, Mountainside’s esaid Medical Director Dr. Randall Dwenger.

Buprenorphine, a “partial agonist,” binds to opiate receptors to block cravings and diminish withdrawal symptoms while naloxone is incorporated to prevent misuse of the medication. Naltrexone, an “antagonist” drug, attaches to opioid receptors in the brain, with no euphoric effect, and inhibits any possible “high” that comes from taking opioids.

These medications help reduce cravings in most opioid-dependent individuals, stabilize their brain chemistry, and reduce withdrawal symptoms. Ultimately, the most significant benefit of the MAT medicines, is that they these addiction medicines enable clients to focus better concentrate on maintaining their sobriety, avoiding relapse, and working on their personal growth and other areas of their lives.