The Hope Institute’s medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program combines FDA-approved medication with counseling to treat opioid and alcohol addiction. Our outpatient MAT uses buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone (including Vivitrol): buprenorphine eases cravings and withdrawal, and naltrexone blocks the effect of opioids and reduces alcohol cravings. Each is paired with therapy that builds lasting recovery.
MAT is available in person and through telehealth, alongside our partial care, IOP and outpatient programs. Our MAT program works with Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, TRICARE and most other major insurance plans. Call (855) 659-2310 to verify your benefits and book your MAT assessment.
What Is a Medication-Assisted Treatment Program?
A medication-assisted treatment program uses FDA-approved medication alongside counseling and behavioral therapy to treat substance use disorders. The medication steadies cravings so the clinical work of recovery becomes possible. The therapy works on the thoughts, behaviors and circumstances behind the addiction.
MAT is best established for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. In both, the right medication reduces cravings and supports staying in recovery, and counseling builds the skills that keep recovery steady.
MAT also protects health. In an NIH-summarized study of adults who had survived an overdose, buprenorphine treatment was linked to a 38% lower likelihood of dying from an opioid overdose over the next year.
MAT Medications We Use
Two FDA-approved medications anchor our MAT program. A medical provider chooses the right one with you, based on your substance, your history and your recovery stage.
| Medication | How it works | How it is taken | Treats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine (Suboxone) | Partial opioid agonist that eases cravings and withdrawal | Daily film or tablet | Opioid use disorder |
| Naltrexone (Vivitrol) | Blocks opioid receptors; reduces alcohol cravings and reward | Monthly injection | Opioid and alcohol use disorder |
| Naltrexone (oral) | Blocks opioid receptors; reduces alcohol cravings and reward | Daily tablet | Opioid and alcohol use disorder |
Suboxone combines buprenorphine with naloxone to lower the potential for misuse. It is started as you move through early withdrawal and can support long-term recovery. Naltrexone is a non-opioid, non-habit-forming medication. It is started once detox is complete.
Suboxone Treatment for Opioid Addiction
Suboxone treatment is a first-line MAT option for heroin and opioid addiction. Because buprenorphine binds to the same receptors as opioids but produces far less effect, it relieves cravings and withdrawal so you can think clearly, sleep and take part in therapy.
Your provider times the first dose to the early stage of withdrawal, then adjusts the dose until cravings are controlled. From there, visits and counseling settle into a steady schedule. Suboxone suits people early or mid recovery and treats every form of opioid use disorder, including prescription opioid addiction. Counseling starts in the same week as your first dose.
MAT for Alcohol Addiction
MAT treats alcohol use disorder as well as opioid addiction. For alcohol, naltrexone reduces cravings and blunts the rewarding effect of drinking, which makes the changes built in counseling easier to keep.
Naltrexone comes as a daily tablet or a monthly Vivitrol injection, and a medical provider confirms it fits your health history first. It is paired with therapy throughout your alcohol addiction treatment.
Many people choose the monthly injection because it removes the daily decision to take a pill, while others prefer the flexibility of a tablet. Your provider reviews the options with you, checks in on cravings and side effects, and adjusts the plan as your drinking pattern changes. When alcohol detox is needed first, we connect you with a trusted detox facility and start naltrexone afterward.
Counseling Alongside Medication
Medication makes recovery possible, and counseling makes it last. Our MAT program pairs medication with individual therapy and group therapy, using approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.
CBT works on the thoughts and behaviors that lead back toward use. DBT builds skills for intense emotions and high-pressure moments. For adults with depression, anxiety or trauma, our dual diagnosis treatment treats that condition at the same time, so medication, therapy and mental health care work as one plan.
Group sessions also give you a place to talk openly about medication in recovery with peers who understand it. Family sessions help loved ones see MAT as medical care, which builds support at home.
Is MAT Right for You?
MAT is a strong fit if you are living with opioid or alcohol use disorder and want medical support for cravings while you work on recovery. It suits:
- Adults using heroin, fentanyl or prescription opioids
- People who have tried to stop on their own and want more support
- Adults with alcohol use disorder who want help with cravings
- People stepping down from detox who want a steady start in outpatient care
- Anyone who wants medication and counseling in the same plan
Your assessment confirms whether MAT fits and which medication suits you best. If you are unsure, the assessment is the place to ask questions about how each medication works, what dosing involves and how it fits your schedule.
Outpatient MAT and Telehealth
Our MAT is office-based outpatient care. You receive medication and counseling on a schedule while living at home and keeping up with work, school or family. A medical provider evaluates your history, confirms the medication, monitors your progress and adjusts the plan as you move forward.
Office-based MAT with buprenorphine or naltrexone fits into daily life, with visits scheduled around your week. Telehealth visits make it easier still, removing transportation and scheduling as barriers to staying in care. A telehealth MAT visit covers the same ground as an in-person one: how you are feeling, cravings, side effects and your next steps, with prescriptions sent to your pharmacy when appropriate. MAT runs alongside our partial care, IOP and outpatient programs.
Methadone is a third FDA-approved option for opioid use disorder, and federal rules limit it to licensed opioid treatment programs. When methadone is the best fit, our team helps connect you with one of those programs.
How Long MAT Lasts
MAT follows the pace of your recovery. Treatment at The Hope Institute typically runs at least one year, and many people stay engaged longer to protect their progress.
In the first weeks, visits are more frequent while your provider finds the right dose and you settle into counseling. Once cravings are steady and your routine is stable, visits spread out and counseling moves to a lighter schedule, often alongside a step down from IOP to outpatient care.
Visits and counseling ease as stability holds. Any decision to taper is made with your medical provider, based on cravings, health and how settled your recovery feels.
MAT Cost and Insurance Coverage
We work with most major insurance plans for medication-assisted treatment. Coverage for medication and counseling varies by plan, so we verify your benefits up front and explain what is covered before you start.
For MAT, we work with plans including Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, TRICARE and NYSHIP. We confirm how your plan handles MAT prescriptions, what your copay or coinsurance looks like and whether your insurer asks for prior authorization. Private pay options are also available. Many plans cover the medication under pharmacy benefits and the counseling under behavioral health benefits, so we check both parts for you. Telehealth MAT visits are covered by many plans as well, which we confirm during the same call.
How to Start Our MAT Program
- Insurance verification: call (855) 659-2310 or use the form on this page.
- Medical and clinical assessment: a provider reviews your substance use, health history and current medications.
- Medication and treatment plan: you and your provider choose buprenorphine or naltrexone and set your counseling schedule.
- Begin treatment: you start medication with counseling, in person or by telehealth.
Keep your insurance card, your medication list and any recent treatment records handy when you call. When detox is needed first, we connect you with a trusted detox facility and start MAT right after. Call (855) 659-2310 to start your MAT program. Every call is confidential.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a medication-assisted treatment program?
A MAT program combines FDA-approved medication with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat opioid and alcohol addiction. The medication reduces cravings and withdrawal while therapy addresses the causes of addiction.
Which medications are used in MAT?
We use buprenorphine, including Suboxone, and naltrexone, available as a daily tablet or a monthly Vivitrol injection.
What is the success rate of MAT?
MAT is one of the best-supported treatments for opioid use disorder. According to the NIH, buprenorphine treatment after an overdose brought a 38% lower likelihood of dying from an opioid overdose.
What medications are commonly used for detox?
Buprenorphine is often started during opioid detox to ease withdrawal. Alcohol detox uses medication given under medical supervision at a detox facility, and naltrexone can begin once detox is complete.
Can I start MAT if I am still using?
Yes. Call to schedule your assessment. Your provider plans when to start buprenorphine based on your last use, or connects you with detox first when that is the safer start.
Does MAT replace one addiction with another?
MAT uses steady, monitored doses of prescribed medication that treat cravings and withdrawal while keeping you clear-headed. It treats addiction as a medical condition, much like medication for any chronic illness. Naltrexone is a non-opioid medication, and Suboxone includes naloxone to lower misuse potential.
Is MAT only for opioid addiction?
MAT also treats alcohol use disorder. Naltrexone reduces alcohol cravings and blunts the rewarding effect of drinking.
Can MAT be done as an outpatient program?
Yes. Our MAT program is outpatient, with in-person and telehealth visits alongside partial care, IOP or outpatient counseling.
How long does MAT last?
Treatment typically runs at least one year. Any taper is planned with your medical provider based on your progress.
Does insurance cover MAT?
We work with most major plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana and TRICARE, and we verify your MAT coverage before you start.