Medication-Assisted Treatments
Medication-assisted treatments (MATs) are controlled medications
that help relieve the side effects and cravings associated with
withdrawal in order to support an addict’s fight for sobriety.
MAT medications are dispensed through a Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration-certified opioid
treatment program.
centers are available for all populations and all ages at risk
for or who have a diagnosis of mental illness, substance use
disorder, intellectual or developmental disability or a co-
occurring disorder. Individual, group and family therapies are
available at the comprehensive centers.
In addition to the community-based system, outpatient
therapy providers include a variety of licensed behavioral health
centers, federally qualified health centers and private practices.
In 2017, West Virginia was approved for a 1115 waiver from
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide a
broader range of services for individuals with a substance use
disorder. That same year, the West Virginia Legislature created
the Ryan Brown Addiction Prevention and Recovery Fund,
which supported expansion of treatment availability.
“Thanks to the Ryan Brown funding, the DHHR anticipates
that West Virginia is close to doubling the number of residential
treatment beds in the state,” says Mullins. “Another example of
funding used to make treatment more accessible across the state
will be the DHHR’s support that will be released in the near
future for loan repayment for new therapists in order to recruit
and retain them in West Virginia communities. The DHHR
continues to monitor and make continuous improvements to
the way West Virginia measures the need for additional treat-
ment capacity to allocate funding when it becomes available
in a way that is most effective to support access to treatment
for West Virginians.”
There are three medications used for treatment: methadone,
buprenorphine and naltrexone. These MATs are effective with
short-acting opioids like heroin, morphine and codeine and
synthetic opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone. MAT plans
last from a period of months to a lifetime. These medications
are used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that also
includes counseling and social support programs.
Methadone
• Tricks the brain into thinking it is still getting the abused
drug, which keeps withdrawal from occurring
• Is taken once a day in the form of a liquid, powder, tablet
or diskette
• Is only administered with a physician’s supervision
Buprenorphine
• Suppresses and reduces cravings
• Is taken in a pill form or sublingual tablet placed under
the tongue
• Is the first MAT drug to be prescribed or dispensed in
physician offices
Naltrexone
• Blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of heroin, morphine
and codeine
• Is taken in a pill form daily or as an injection once a month
• Is administered by any health care provider licensed to
prescribe medications
• Prevents the feeling of getting high if the individual relapses
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration
44
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
Recovery Residence Programs
In addition to the changes and expansion of residential
treatment, there has been an increase in recovery residence
programs in recent years.
Recovery residences can vary in terms of the types of services
provided and expectations of residents. In 2018, the DHHR’s
Office of Drug Control Policy partnered with the West Virginia
Alliance of Recovery Residences, Inc. (WVARR), the state
affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences, to
support recovery residences across West Virginia.
Recovery housing is intended to provide safe, healthy and
drug-free living environments that support individuals in
recovery from substance use disorder. However, that isn’t
always the case.