MAT (medication-assisted treatment)
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of FDA-approved medications, such as buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone, to treat substance use disorders, usually alongside counseling and other support.
Also called medication-assisted treatment, MOUD, medications for opioid use disorder, medications for addiction treatment
- Last reviewed
- 4 sources, linked
- 4 related terms
What it means
For opioid use disorder the FDA-approved medications are buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone, and SAMHSA increasingly calls this MOUD, medications for opioid use disorder. For alcohol use disorder they are acamprosate, disulfiram and naltrexone, in oral or extended-release injectable form.
Methadone for opioid use disorder can only be dispensed through federally certified opioid treatment programs. Buprenorphine became easier to prescribe when the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, signed on December 29, 2022, removed the federal waiver requirement; a practitioner whose DEA registration includes Schedule III authority can now prescribe it for opioid use disorder where state law allows.
SAMHSA's guidance notes that methadone and buprenorphine treatment are associated with a reduced risk of overdose death.
Why it matters for your website
Families and referral sources look for whether a program offers medications, and which ones. Say clearly which medications you provide or continue, whether someone already taking buprenorphine or methadone can be admitted, and how prescribing works.
Keep claims within what you actually do. LegitScript's medication standard lets a provider use, recommend or promote only drugs that the relevant regulators permit.
Sources
The facts on this page about a law, a regulator, a clinical standard or a platform come from these sources. Each link opens the original in a new tab.
- SAMHSATreatment Options for Substance Use Disorder (opens in a new tab)
- SAMHSATIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (opens in a new tab)
- SAMHSAAdvisory: Using Medication-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (PEP20-02-02-015) (opens in a new tab)
- SAMHSAWaiver Elimination (MAT Act) (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed
This entry explains a clinical term so you can describe your care accurately on your website. It is not medical advice, and clinical decisions belong with your clinical team.
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