Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS) is helping those fighting opioid addiction with both in-patient and out-patient services, and now, with targeted medications.
Though LCBHS has provided alcohol and drug addiction treatment for some time, that treatment is now able to be honed specifically towards opioid dependency, which is on the rise around the country.
In addition to comprehensive therapy and support, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioids includes the use of specific drugs that reduce cravings or the effect of opioids to facilitate with withdrawal and help prevent relapses.
In November 2018, LCBHS received a grant through the state Department of Social Services to include MAT as part of its existing program in order to better face the reality of the national opioid epidemic.
MAT is based on research that supports the use of medication as one part of the tool for combating opioid addiction. The three main medications indicated for treatment of opioid addiction include: methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone.
Methadone has been used for decades to address opioid addiction, and though it provides a consistent, low, daily dose of opioid, it is itself addictive and is stringently controlled.
“Methadone is only prescribed through a specially licensed clinic and the only location for that is in Sioux Falls, and so that’s limiting,” VanMeeteren said. “It’s not an option we would highly recommend, but nevertheless it’s been out there for a long time as a way to treat opioid use.
The MAT program at LCBHS uses either buprenorphine or naltrexone to treat opioid abuse.
Source: Yankton Daily Press
https://www.yankton.net/community/article_4d680eca-2150-11ea-8958-2fa15adaeae5.html
