Seeking help for opioid addiction is no easy task. It requires a commitment to recovery, one that often starts with the help of a support network and doctor, like our team at Master Center for Addiction Medicine in Gloucester, VA.

Once you decide you’re ready, our doctors will give you many options for recovery. One of our most utilized forms of recovery is Medication Assisted Treatment utilizing Buprenorphine (Suboxone). This approach is supported by a growing body of research demonstrating dramatic and lasting benefits for patients with opioid use disorder and we are proud of the program we’ve brought to our facility in Gloucester.

Each of our medical providers is specially trained in our unique and highly effective MAT system.  Keep reading to learn what makes MAT especially effective at The Master Center for Addiction Medicine.

What is Medication Assisted Treatment?

Addiction is a complex and baffling disease and one of the most difficult to overcome.  Recovering from addiction requires time and a lot of help in the form of education, counseling, emotional support, accountability, practical guidance and protection and so many don’t make it.  What if there was a medication that could make it a little easier to succeed?  Ever since the introduction of methadone in the 1960’s, medical researchers and doctors have been seeking just such medications; special medicines to be used along with counseling to help people recover. 

Combining those special medications with all the other traditional approaches to exactly what Medication Assisted Treatment is about.  The most well known and effective of these special medicines are Methadone, Naltrexone (Vivitrol) and Buprenorphine.

Buprenorphine, the essential ingredient in Suboxone, is an opioid-type medication with some unique characteristics.it is an opioid antagonist. What that means is that it negates the effects of opioids by preventing opioids from activating pain receptors in the brain. If Suboxone is taken properly it does not induce the euphoric effect sometimes associated with someone taking opioids.  When you come to our facility in Gloucester, VA your doctor may prescribe Suboxone as a tool in your recovery.

Benefits of Buprenorphine (Suboxone) Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

stabilize the individual’s environment, reducing or completely removing the often chaotic lifestyle they were engaging in throughout their active addiction. They no longer have to spend hours potentially running down money and drugs that could be adulterated and cut by drug dealers and middlemen. At the end of the day, this creates stability.

The direct result of having Suboxone as a tool is that it allows the individual to focus on and address the other aspects of recovery, as well as their life that they were previously too preoccupied to focus on. One can wake up, take their Suboxone, and start their day. This routine gives the individual time to heal mentally and physically from the destructive whirlwind of addiction. When coupled with individual and group therapy, along with other healthy behaviors, one can build a solid foundation for their recovery.

Our team in Gloucester, VA, is experienced with helping patients transition from addiction to recovery, and many of our staff are in recovery themselves. Reach out today to see how we can help you or a loved one.

Our Approach

At Master Center for Addiction Medicine in Gloucester, VA, our goal is to help each patient find lasting recovery. It takes time and effort but we have great confidence in the programs we have created.  The Medication Assisted Treatment program is an effective and reliable way to start that journey.  

Each care plan is individualized but the general focus is on achieving stability and then growing toward personal fulfillment and spiritual awakening.  There is no arbitrary time frame for how long a patient will need to participate in MAT, instead we base our decision on patient progress and readiness.  Some will choose to stay on buprenorphine indefinitely because it keeps them safe and makes it easier to avoid relapse.  Others will be eager to strengthen their emotional/spiritual recovery to the point that they no longer need the extra support of medication.  Both approaches work and it all depends on personal needs.

If you are ready to begin this journey, contact our team in Gloucester, Virginia and let us support you. We’ll get started with a consultation and a personal plan of care created specially for you. 

Call our team in Gloucester, VA, for the addiction treatment you need today.

Buprenorphine is effective for both medically managed withdrawal (Detox) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

As noted above, buprenorphine is a special opioid with unique properties.  It’s first, most obvious benefit is its power to extinguish withdrawal symptoms, which is why it works so well in a ‘Detox Taper’ (a gradual reduction in dose as the body adjusts).  It’s other properties – the ability to block other opioids from working, it’s limited potential for abuse and safety profile make it an effective medication for ongoing use in a Medication Assisted Treatment program.  It is not the only medicine used in MAT but it is one of the most popular and effective.  It is considered a well-rounded approach to recovery in Gloucester, Virginia, as well as across the country.

What To Know Before You Call  

Before exploring Suboxone treatment in Gloucester, VA, you should understand that our program is about much more than just medication.  Like the name suggests, medication is only part of MAT and provides assistance in treatment, not the central focus.  In addition to working with a physician, every care plan in our MAT Program includes:  Weekly group therapy, recovery coaching, frequent drug testing, care coordination and family support.  Services like psychiatry and individual counseling can also be a part of the plan.  If you aren’t willing to participate fully, our program may not be the one for you.

We recommend setting up a consultation with our team in Gloucester to talk about your transition from addiction to recovery.