Recovering from an opioid or alcohol addiction is rarely a straight line. Withdrawal symptoms alone can be severe enough to push someone back toward substance use, even when they are fully committed to getting better.
Medication-assisted treatment, commonly known as MAT, addresses that reality head-on by pairing FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies. Since 1974, Crossroads has provided individualized, evidence-based care that helps build a strong foundation for lasting sobriety. MAT is one tool in that process, and for many, it makes the difference between early relapse and sustained recovery.
How Medication-Assisted Treatment Works
MAT targets the biological side of addiction. Prolonged opioid or alcohol use changes brain chemistry, and those changes don’t reverse overnight. Cravings can persist for weeks or months, and withdrawal symptoms ranging from anxiety and insomnia to seizures and hallucinations can make the early stages of recovery physically dangerous.
FDA-approved medications used in MAT help stabilize brain chemistry, reduce or eliminate cravings, block the euphoric effects of opioids or alcohol, and normalize body functions without producing the harmful effects of the substance being abused. The medication component works alongside counseling, group therapy, and behavioral interventions so that you can address both the physical and psychological dimensions of your substance use disorder.
Medications Used in MAT at Crossroads
Crossroads uses two primary FDA-approved medications in its MAT programs, each suited to different stages and circumstances of recovery. All medications are prescribed and administered by trained medical staff, ensuring safe and consistent care throughout the process.
Buprenorphine (Suboxone)
Buprenorphine, widely known by the brand name Suboxone, reduces the intense cravings and physical discomfort that come with opioid withdrawal. It occupies the same receptor sites in the brain that opioid drugs target, but without producing a high.
Suboxone also contains naloxone, which discourages misuse: if a client attempts to abuse opioids while taking the medication, naloxone blocks the opioids’ effects and triggers withdrawal symptoms. Research shows that buprenorphine-based treatment achieves abstinence rates around 60%, compared to roughly 20% in placebo or no-treatment groups (LegalClarity, 2025).
Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
Vivitrol is an extended-release injectable form of naltrexone, administered once a month. It blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids and has also been shown to reduce alcohol relapse rates.
Because Vivitrol requires complete detoxification from opiates at least 14 days before the first injection, it is typically introduced after the initial detox period. Vivitrol is often a strong fit for clients who have completed detoxification and need ongoing support as they rebuild their daily lives in recovery.
Benefits of MAT
The evidence supporting MAT is substantial. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that medication-assisted treatment can triple a person’s likelihood of achieving sustained recovery.
MAT has been shown to improve survival rates, increase retention in treatment programs, decrease illicit drug use, and improve a client’s ability to gain and maintain employment. For pregnant women, MAT is often the safest and most effective path to a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
MAT Effectiveness by the Numbers
- MAT reduces illicit opioid use by 32% to 69% (LegalClarity, 2025)
- Buprenorphine results in approximately 60% abstinence vs. 20% in placebo/no-treatment (LegalClarity, 2025)
- MAT reduces overall mortality among OUD patients by approximately 25% (LegalClarity, 2025)
- Patients on methadone or buprenorphine are about 50% less likely to die from overdose (LegalClarity, 2025)
- MAT can reduce overdose mortality by 50% or more (BiologyInsights, 2025)
- In 2022, only 25% of adults needing OUD treatment received MAT (CDC, 2024)
These numbers point to a clear conclusion: MAT saves lives. Yet a significant treatment gap persists. Crossroads is working to close that gap in Maine by making MAT accessible as part of comprehensive, individualized treatment plans.
Medication Management for Mental Health Conditions
Crossroads recognizes that mental health and substance use disorders frequently occur together. Co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and others can complicate recovery and, if left untreated, significantly increase the risk of relapse.
Our medical team can prescribe and manage medications for a range of psychiatric conditions as part of an integrated treatment approach. Rather than treating addiction and mental health separately, Crossroads addresses both within the same care plan, so clients receive the coordinated support they need throughout their recovery journey.
Taking the Next Step with Crossroads
If you or a family member is considering MAT, the clinical team at Crossroads can help you understand your options and build a treatment plan that fits your needs. Make an appointment online today or call us at 877-978-1667.
