What is Medication Assisted Treatment?

Medication Assisted Treatment is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.

Research shows that when treating substance-use disorders, a combination of medication and behavioral therapies is most successful. Medication assisted treatment is clinically driven with a focus on individualized patient care.

Solutions Recovery has affiliated with physicians around the Vegas Valley who offer Buprenorphine stabilization and maintenance services. Buprenorphine induction is virtually painless with the majority of withdrawal symptoms being addressed with prescriptions.

Common Characteristics of OPIOID Dependence Include:

• Opioid tolerance (the need to take more drugs to get the same effect, or getting less effect from the same amount of the drug)
• Withdrawal symptoms occur when opioids are not used
• Taking larger amounts of opioids than planned and for longer periods oftime
• Persistent desire or unsuccessful attempts to quit Spending a lot of time and effort to obtain, use, and recover from opioid use
• Giving up or reducing social or recreational activities; missing work
• Continued opioid use regardless of negative consequences

*Patients displaying 3 or more of the above in a 12-month period are considered opioid dependent.

Stages of Treatment

Stage 1:
Client attends Buprenorphine specific intensive outpatient programming five sessions per week for two weeks.

Stage 1 focuses on:

• Understanding how Buprenorphine works and its side effects.
• The importance of a combined program of medication and treatment.
• Cross addiction and the importance of achieving abstinence from all addictive
  substances.
• Outside support systems

Stage 2:
Client attends Buprenorphine specific intensive outpatient programming two sessions per week for three months.

Stage 2 focuses on:

• Understanding addiction as a family and biologically based disease
• Dealing with emotions and relationships
• Identifying self-defeating behaviors
• Developing new coping strategies
• Dealing with urges and cravings
• Tapering off Buprenorphine

Clients are triaged to longer-term Buprenorphine maintenance with specialized programming or abstinence-based programming.

Stage 3:
Client attends Buprenorphine specific Continuing Care one session per week for up to a year.

Stage 3 focuses on:

• Aftercare support
• Developing a healthy support system and lifestyle.
• Relapse prevention

Medical Component Physician Directed Care:

Solutions Recovery has affiliated with physicians around the Vegas Valley who offer Buprenorphine stabilization and maintenance services. Buprenorphine induction is virtually painless with the majority of withdrawal symptoms being addressed with prescriptions.

How does Buprenorphine benefit you?

Buprenorphine will reduce cravings and alleviate withdrawal symptoms.This will help the client continue with and focus on treatment, and eventually help the client regain control over their opiate dependence.

Buprenorphine is provided as a way to treat opioid dependence, in a doctor’s office, with confidentiality, and safety. People treated with Buprenorphine normally do not need to be hospitalized, nor do they need to be admitted into a residential treatment facility.

Clinical Component Treatment:

Studies indicate that Buprenorphine without counseling does not effectively treat the opiate addiction. A high percentage of clients in a medication only program have been found to relapse. Buprenorphine is designed to help the client remain in treatment by controlling their withdrawal symptoms and cravings so the client may focus on his/her recovery. Studies show, when clients are treated with Buprenorphine along with an intensive outpatient program, their chances of ending their opiate dependence are much higher.

Patient Qualifications:

• Extended addiction to opiates
• Previous unsuccessful treatments
• Patients must not be on other addictive medication
• Prescribed Buprenorphine only from affiliated physicians