Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has become the go-to standard for people who need more than willpower to beat addiction, and our MAT Program in Lexington, KY, puts that gold-standard care right at your doorstep.
By pairing FDA-approved medications with therapy and recovery coaching, MAT eases withdrawal, curbs cravings, and lowers the risk of overdose, giving clients the breathing room they need to rebuild their lives.
Whether you choose on-site appointments or the growing option of virtual care, our local providers streamline everything from same-day intakes to prescription refills. Lexington residents no longer have to drive across the state or brave long waitlists; life-saving support is available in town and even on screen, whenever and wherever cravings hit.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) blends two evidence-based pillars: medication and counseling.
The medication side may involve buprenorphine (often delivered as Suboxone), methadone, or extended-release naltrexone, each designed to stabilize brain chemistry, reduce withdrawal, and block the euphoric effects of opioids or alcohol. Meanwhile, clients meet regularly with therapists and peer specialists to unearth triggers, practice coping skills, and repair relationships.
Because medication-assisted treatment (MAT) addresses both the physical and psychological sides of addiction, studies show it can cut opioid-related mortality in half.
Enrollment begins with a medical assessment, followed by an induction phase during which dosages are adjusted to ensure safety and comfort. Ongoing counseling sessions, toxicology screens, and goal reviews keep treatment on track, proving that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is far more than “just another pill.”
A MAT program in Lexington, KY, offers the same clinical rigor you’d find in larger urban centers, but with the hometown advantages of shorter travel times and personalized attention.
Facilities that provide Medication-Assisted Treatment in Lexington, KY, integrate on-site medical staff with licensed counselors, allowing for adjustments to Suboxone or naltrexone to occur in real-time. Many clinics also offer evening or weekend hours, making Medication-Assisted Treatment in Lexington accessible to individuals who balance work, school, or family responsibilities.
Unlike remote mail-order services, local programs can incorporate in-person lab work, group therapy, and emergency consultations—features that enhance safety and accountability.
In short, choosing a Lexington-based MAT provider means combining big-city expertise with small-town accessibility for a recovery plan that truly fits your life.
A comprehensive Medication-Assisted Treatment Program relies on several FDA-approved drugs, each targeting different aspects of addiction. The best-known option is Suboxone, a brand that combines buprenorphine with naloxone to ease cravings and block misuse, hence the common phrase “MAT program Suboxone.”
Pure buprenorphine tablets or implants work similarly by partially activating opioid receptors without producing a high.
For people who’ve completed detox, naltrexone offers a non-addictive alternative that completely shuts off the euphoric pathway, making relapse far less rewarding.
Alcohol use disorder brings its own tools: acamprosate helps stabilize brain chemistry after long-term drinking, while oral or injectable naltrexone can curb the urge to drink.
By tailoring these medications to each person’s history and goals, a modern MAT team covers the full spectrum of recovery needs.
Yes—at Lexington Addiction Center, we deliver full-service MATS Lexington, Kentucky options that treat far more than opioid dependency.
For individuals with heroin or pain-pill issues, we can provide medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder using Suboxone, methadone, or extended-release naltrexone. These medications lessen withdrawal pain, reduce cravings, and lower overdose risk, all while clients engage in counseling and peer support.
Our center also runs parallel tracks focused on alcohol recovery. In an alcohol medication-assisted treatment track, physicians may prescribe acamprosate to rebalance brain chemistry or oral naltrexone to blunt the pleasure of drinking.
This dual expertise means Lexington residents can access medication-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder without switching facilities or providers, whether the struggle involves opioids, alcohol, or both.
Local MAT programs at Lexington Addiction Center integrate medical oversight, behavioral therapies, and case management under one roof, streamlining care for lasting results.
A medication-assisted opioid treatment program unfolds in three clear phases.
Induction: On day one, medical staff confirm withdrawal levels, administer an initial dose of buprenorphine or methadone, and monitor you for several hours to dial in comfort and safety.
Stabilization: Over the next few weeks, daily or thrice-weekly check-ins fine-tune dosage while therapists introduce relapse-prevention skills, trigger mapping, and peer support.
Maintenance: Once cravings level off, visits taper to weekly or monthly, toxicology screens verify adherence, and counseling shifts toward long-term goals, such as employment, housing, and family healing.
Throughout all phases, emergency access to clinicians and 24/7 support lines ensures that setbacks are addressed immediately, making the medication-assisted opioid treatment program a structured yet adaptable path to sustained recovery.
Absolutely. Virtual medication-assisted treatment allows you to complete your entire intake through a secure video platform with no waiting room required. During the first telehealth visit, a clinician reviews your medical history, verifies lab results, and creates a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Once approved, e-prescribing sends Suboxone, naltrexone, or other MAT medications straight to your pharmacy so that you can pick them up the same day. Ongoing appointments happen weekly or bi-weekly via video, and providers mail saliva or urine kits for remote drug screens that you complete on camera to ensure accountability.
Because virtual medication-assisted treatment includes counseling and peer-support groups over encrypted apps, you still receive the behavioral care essential to success.
For rural residents or anyone juggling work, parenting, or transportation hurdles, virtual medication-assisted treatment turns your living room into a lifeline, proving that distance no longer dictates recovery.
Patients should always be allowed to know what kind of medications a facility uses in MAT. At our MAT program in Lexington, KY, we provide all the necessary information for what we administer during treatment. Each medication offered is professionally given to ease symptoms of withdrawal. Our medications are FDA approved and can help a patient’s condition in a variety of ways.
Approved by the FDA in 2017, Sublocade is the first injectable buprenorphine product for addiction treatment. Sublocade is a once-a-month injection to keep the patient stable and have a clear mind through treatment. As a result, cravings are slowed down and controlled due to the slow release of buprenorphine. Sublocade is great to combat opioid addiction and assists in the recovery process for other drugs as well.
Vivitrol offers a safe form of treatment for long-term relief and healing. For those suffering from alcohol addiction, Vivitrol helps prevent endorphins reach opioid receptors in the brain. Additionally, this also works for those with drug addiction. Vivitrol usually works within the first month of injections to safeguard against relapse. Patients will be able to continue treatment and focus on coping skills to achieve sobriety.
By combining medication with behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment for drug addiction tackles both the biological and psychological roots of substance use. FDA-approved medications keep brain chemistry stable, which lowers cravings and makes it easier to focus on counseling.
Research shows that people who remain in MAT for at least 12 months are two to three times more likely to stay in treatment and experience up to a 50 percent reduction in relapse and overdose deaths compared with those who rely on abstinence alone.
Because clients feel physically balanced, they can engage more fully in therapy, rebuild relationships, and pursue employment or education, which are cornerstones of a lasting, drug-free life.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a comprehensive approach to treating substance use disorders that combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies. Rather than focusing solely on one aspect of addiction, MAT supports recovery by addressing both the physiological and psychological components of substance dependence. The medications used in MAT work on the brain’s chemistry to reduce cravings, ease withdrawal symptoms, and stabilize neural pathways that have been disrupted by extended substance use. At the same time, counseling and therapy help individuals strengthen coping skills, build emotional regulation strategies, and develop a supportive framework for long-term behavior change.
MAT is not a “quick fix,” nor does it simply replace one substance with another. Instead, it helps restore stability so individuals can more fully engage in counseling, relapse prevention planning, and meaningful life changes. Because addiction alters both brain function and emotional patterns, MAT provides a balanced foundation where biological and behavioral treatment work together. This integrative approach has been shown to improve retention in treatment, increase the likelihood of sustained recovery, and reduce the risk of relapse. By addressing the whole picture of addiction — body, mind, and behavior — MAT supports individuals as they build a healthier, more sustainable future.
A good candidate for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is someone who is struggling with a moderate to severe substance use disorder, particularly when cravings, physical dependence, or withdrawal symptoms are barriers to recovery. This includes individuals using opioids, alcohol, or other substances where the brain has adapted to the presence of the drug and experiences distress when it is absent. These physiological adaptations make quitting extremely uncomfortable and increase the risk of relapse if not carefully managed.
MAT is especially valuable for people who have attempted to stop using on their own but found the physical or emotional symptoms too overwhelming to sustain recovery. It’s also helpful for individuals whose cravings intensify during stress or emotional pain — circumstances that can make traditional therapy alone less effective. Because MAT includes medication support, it provides a safety net that helps reduce the intensity of cravings and withdrawal, allowing individuals to participate more fully in therapy and build long-term coping skills.
Importantly, MAT candidates are assessed individually by clinicians who consider factors like overall health, substance use history, co-occurring mental health conditions, and personal goals for recovery. MAT is not one-size-fits-all, but when matched to someone’s specific needs, it can be a powerful tool in a comprehensive treatment plan.
Medications used in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) work by stabilizing brain chemistry that has been disrupted by prolonged substance use. Many substances — like opioids or alcohol — alter how neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins function, creating powerful cravings, reinforcing use through reward pathways, and making withdrawal uncomfortable. MAT medications interact with the same or related pathways in a controlled way, reducing cravings and alleviating withdrawal without producing the harmful highs or lows associated with continued substance use.
For example, certain medications bind to specific brain receptors to reduce physical cravings and ease the discomfort of withdrawal. Others help regulate neurotransmitter systems that support mood balance and stress response. Because these medications act gently and with predictable effects, they help the nervous system stabilize and reduce the acute physiological distress that often drives relapse.
Importantly, MAT medications don’t simply mask symptoms temporarily — they support the body’s adjustment to sobriety so that individuals can engage in counseling, develop coping mechanisms, and strengthen psychological resilience. In this way, medications become a tool for recovery support, not a replacement for therapy. When combined with behavioral treatment, MAT helps individuals work on underlying emotional patterns and build sustainable habits that support long-term wellness.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is most commonly used for opioid and alcohol use disorders, because medications have been developed and approved specifically to target the neural mechanisms involved in those dependencies. These substances interact strongly with the brain’s reward and stress systems, and the medications used in MAT help regulate those pathways, reduce cravings, and ease withdrawal symptoms in a safe, controlled way.
For opioid use disorder, MAT medications can reduce the intense discomfort of withdrawal and stabilize receptor activity so individuals don’t experience extreme cravings driven by neurochemical imbalance. For alcohol use disorder, certain medications help reduce the urge to drink and minimize the physiological stress when alcohol is absent.
While MAT is less commonly used for other substances like stimulants (for which there are currently no widely accepted FDA-approved medications), elements of the MAT model — such as medication support for co-occurring mental health conditions — may still play a role in comprehensive treatment. Clinicians customize treatment based on each individual’s substance use history, symptoms, and overall health profile.
Ultimately, MAT is one component of a full treatment plan. For substances without direct pharmacological options, therapy, behavioral interventions, peer support, and coping skills development remain central. A clinician can help determine whether MAT is appropriate and how it fits into a broader recovery strategy tailored to specific needs.
No — Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) does not replace counseling and therapy; instead, it enhances and supports those components of recovery. While medications in MAT help stabilize brain chemistry, reduce cravings, and ease physical withdrawal symptoms, they do not address the emotional, behavioral, and psychological factors that contribute to substance use. Counseling and therapy are essential parts of a comprehensive treatment plan because they help individuals explore underlying triggers, process emotional pain, learn healthy coping strategies, and build long-term relapse prevention skills.
Think of MAT medications as tools that create the biological stability necessary for deeper emotional work. Without that stability, cravings or withdrawal discomfort can dominate attention and make it difficult to benefit fully from therapy. With MAT, individuals often find they can engage more consistently and effectively in counseling, which accelerates growth and improves outcomes.
Therapy modalities — such as individual counseling, group work, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and family support — help people develop self-awareness, communication skills, emotional regulation techniques, and supportive routines. These skills are critical for sustainable recovery because they equip individuals to respond intentionally to stress, navigate triggers, and build resilience. MAT and therapy work synergistically: medication provides physiological balance, and therapy builds psychological strength.
The length of time someone stays on MAT medications varies based on individual needs, the severity of dependence, treatment goals, and progress in therapy. There is no single timeline that applies to everyone. Some individuals may need MAT for several months to stabilize brain chemistry and build healthy coping skills before gradually reducing their dosage under clinical supervision. Others benefit from longer-term use because it helps maintain stability and reduces the risk of relapse over time.
Decisions about how long to continue medications are made collaboratively between the individual and their clinician. This process includes regular evaluation of symptoms, progress in therapy, emotional stability, and risk factors for relapse. If a gradual tapering off of medication is pursued, it is done carefully and systematically under medical oversight to minimize withdrawal symptoms and support ongoing recovery activities.
MAT is designed to support sustainable, long-term recovery, and the length of use should be aligned with overall treatment goals rather than arbitrary timelines. For some people, longer use of medications may be a necessary part of maintaining stability and preventing relapse. For others, once the nervous system and coping skills have sufficiently strengthened, medication may be safely reduced or discontinued. The priority is always safety, emotional well-being, and readiness for each step.
Like all medications, those used in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) can have side effects, and it’s important for individuals to be informed and monitored throughout treatment. Side effects vary depending on the medication used and the person’s unique physiology, but they may include mild symptoms such as nausea, headache, fatigue, or sleep changes. Some medications can also interact with other drugs, which is why a complete medical history and ongoing communication with a clinician are essential.
It’s also possible for individuals to develop physical dependence on certain MAT medications, particularly those that interact with opioid receptors. This is different from addiction; physical dependence means the body has adapted to the medication and may experience discomfort if it’s rapidly discontinued. For this reason, any changes in dosage should be made gradually under medical supervision.
Despite potential side effects, many individuals find that the benefits of MAT — such as reduced cravings, emotional stability, and a decreased likelihood of relapse — outweigh the risks. Clinicians carefully weigh the pros and cons, tailor medication plans to individual needs, and adjust prescriptions as necessary. Regular monitoring and open communication help ensure that side effects are managed and that MAT contributes positively to recovery goals.
To begin Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) at Lexington Addiction Center, the first step is a comprehensive clinical assessment with a qualified medical provider. This evaluation explores the individual’s substance use history, physical health, emotional well-being, cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and readiness for recovery. The clinician uses this information to determine whether MAT is appropriate and which medication — if any — aligns best with the individual’s needs.
Once MAT is considered a good fit, the clinician develops a personalized plan that includes medication selection, dosing, and integration with counseling and behavioral therapies. Education about how the medication works, what to expect, possible side effects, and how progress will be tracked is provided so the individual feels empowered and informed.
Starting MAT also means establishing a collaborative relationship with the care team so that adjustments can be made as recovery progresses. Regular follow-up appointments help the clinician monitor symptom changes, dosing needs, and engagement in therapy. This ongoing communication ensures that treatment remains responsive and supportive over time.
Taking that first step — reaching out for an assessment — opens the door to comprehensive care where medication, therapy, and personalized support work together to support long-term recovery.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders. Lexington Addiction Center provides MAT in Lexington, Kentucky as part of our comprehensive addiction treatment programs.
MAT can significantly reduce cravings, stabilize withdrawal symptoms, and lower the risk of relapse or overdose. When clinically appropriate, medications are carefully prescribed and monitored by qualified medical professionals within a structured treatment plan.
MAT is not a substitute for therapy — it is a medical tool that supports recovery by addressing the physical aspects of dependence while clients engage in counseling and relapse prevention work.
Our team conducts thorough medical and psychiatric evaluations to determine whether MAT is appropriate for each individual. Treatment plans are personalized to ensure safety and effectiveness.
If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid or alcohol addiction in Lexington, medication-assisted treatment may provide the stability needed to begin recovery.
Call Lexington Addiction Center today for confidential admissions support and immediate insurance verification. Safe, evidence-based treatment is available now.
The information provided by Lexington Addiction Center is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or a substitute for professional healthcare treatment.
Lexington Addiction Center offers addiction treatment services, which may include residential treatment, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, relapse prevention planning, and supportive recovery programming. However, participation in these services does not constitute a guarantee of sobriety or specific treatment outcomes. Recovery is a highly individualized process, and results may vary depending on each person’s unique medical history, substance use background, mental health needs, and level of engagement in care.
Lexington Addiction Center is not a medical emergency facility and does not provide emergency services. If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency, overdose, suicidal thoughts, or is in immediate danger, please call 911 immediately or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Clients are encouraged to consult with qualified physicians, licensed mental health professionals, and other healthcare providers regarding any medical or psychiatric concerns, medication management, or co-occurring conditions. Treatment decisions should always be made in collaboration with licensed professionals.
The content on this website and within Lexington Addiction Center programming is not intended to replace individualized clinical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment planning by a licensed provider.
By using this website or participating in services at Lexington Addiction Center, you acknowledge and agree that Lexington Addiction Center is not liable for actions taken based on the information provided and that treatment success depends on many factors beyond the scope of any one program.
If you have questions about whether our addiction treatment services are appropriate for your needs, please contact our admissions team for a confidential assessment.
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National Institutes of Health. (2018, June 19). Methadone and buprenorphine reduce risk of death after opioid overdose. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/methadone-buprenorphine-reduce-risk-death-after-opioid-overdose National Institutes of Health (NIH)
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2017, Nov 30). FDA approves SUBLOCADE (buprenorphine) extended-release injection (announcement; see also NDA docs). https://professionals.optumrx.com/…/drugapprovals_sublocade_2017-1130.html OptumRx Professionals
Alkermes, Inc. (2022). Vivitrol (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) prescribing information. https://www.vivitrol.com/content/pdfs/prescribing-information.pdf Vivitrol
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2012). An introduction to extended-release injectable naltrexone for the treatment of people with opioid dependence (Advisory). https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma12-4682.pdf SAMHSA Library
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Recovery is possible: Treatment for opioid addiction. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/treatment/opioid-addiction.html
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We understand addiction affects the whole family. Our comprehensive family program helps rebuild trust and restore relationships.
Weekly Family Therapy Sessions
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Support Groups
Communication Skills Training
Addiction and co-occurring disorders don’t have to control your life. Lexington Addiction Center is waiting with open arms to give you the tools necessary for lasting change. Reach out to us today to learn more.
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