Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Los Angeles
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) at Create Recovery Center allows you to get medication and therapy under one program for a well-rounded recovery. Our own licensed providers prescribe Suboxone, Sublocade, and Vivitrol.
Create Recovery Center offers medication-assisted treatment in Los Angeles for those facing alcohol and opioid use disorders. Our own licensed and experienced providers prescribe Suboxone, Sublocade, and Vivitrol, and you can begin medication and therapy with the same team.
If you are looking for a MAT program that treats the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – and not only the prescription, you can read on to understand what we offer, what the first few weeks look like, and how you can begin your recovery journey with us.
What Is Medication Assisted Treatment?
Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is care that pairs U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication with psychotherapy and counseling. It is used for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder, which are formally diagnosed medical conditions.
Both conditions change how the brain experiences craving, reward, and stress. Medication targets those changes.
For alcohol, it can lower the urge to drink and make heavy drinking feel not as rewarding. For opioids, it can lower cravings and ease withdrawal so you can think about something other than the next dose. Therapy covers what medication cannot treat – stress, trauma, relationships, daily habits, and any mental health conditions that underlie substance use.
In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), those who took buprenorphine after a nonfatal opioid overdose were 38% less likely to experience opioid overdose-related fatalities during treatment than those who received no medication.
Medications Our Providers Prescribe
Our own providers prescribe three medications. Which one fits you depends on what you are treating, your history, and what daily life looks like for you.
| Medication | What It Treats | How It Is Taken | How Often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suboxone | Opioid use disorder | Dissolved under the tongue | Daily |
| Sublocade | Opioid use disorder | Injection given by a healthcare provider | Once a month |
| Vivitrol | Alcohol and opioid use disorders | Injection given by a healthcare provider | Once a month |
Suboxone
Suboxone is a daily medication that contains buprenorphine and naloxone, and dissolves under the tongue. Buprenorphine binds to the same receptors in the brain that opioids use, but it activates them enough to ease withdrawal and reduce cravings, with a much weaker effect than full opioids such as heroin or fentanyl. Its effect levels off at higher doses (a 'ceiling effect'), which lowers the risk of overdose compared with full opioids, although that risk rises if it is mixed with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives.
Most take it at home once a day and see us regularly while the dose is adjusted. If you are searching for Suboxone treatment in Los Angeles, or for Suboxone providers in Los Angeles who also offer therapy, you can contact us to learn more.
Sublocade
Sublocade is a monthly buprenorphine injection given by a healthcare provider. There are no daily doses to remember and nothing to store at home. Before the first injection, you take buprenorphine under the tongue, sometimes as a single test dose, so your provider can confirm you tolerate it. You can then move to the monthly injection.
Vivitrol
Vivitrol is an extended-release form of naltrexone, given as a monthly injection. It blocks the effects of opioids at the brain's opioid receptors, and for alcohol use disorder it can help reduce drinking and cravings. It does not ease withdrawal, so it is started only after opioids have cleared your body, typically 7 to 10 days after your last opioid use. For alcohol use disorder, the dose begins when you are not actively drinking.
Safety Note: Your risk of overdose rises if you stop your medication, miss a Vivitrol dose, or return to opioid use, as your tolerance may be lower than before. Taking large amounts of opioids to try to override Vivitrol can lead to a fatal overdose. Mixing buprenorphine with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives can cause dangerous breathing problems. If you use any of these, tell us right away so we can adjust your care together, without judgment.
MAT for Opioid Use Disorder
MAT for opioid use disorder is for people who find it hard to cut down or stop using opioids, whether it means heroin, fentanyl, or prescription pain medicine. You may have tried to stop on your own, felt sick, and gone back. You do not need to hit a particular low point to reach out.
If opioids are leading to problems in daily functioning and relationships, reaching out for a clinical evaluation can be the right next step.
Starting Suboxone takes some planning. It can bring on sudden withdrawal if the first dose is taken too early, so our providers tell you when to take it, once clear signs of withdrawal are present. With fentanyl, that wait can be longer, so we plan the timing with you. Over the following days and weeks, the dose is adjusted until cravings are manageable and you feel steady. Some later move to Sublocade for the monthly schedule. Others who want to stay opioid-free without a daily medicine can choose Vivitrol once enough time has passed without opioids.
MAT for Alcohol Use Disorder
MAT for alcohol is less well known than MAT for opioids, but it is an evidence-based option that helps many people drink less or stop. Medication for alcohol use disorder can reduce cravings and make it easier to stop drinking. At Create Recovery, our providers prescribe Vivitrol, a monthly injection of naltrexone.
Most people never hear that this is an option. In 2019, an estimated 14.1 million U.S. adults had alcohol use disorder, and only about 223,000 of them used medication for it, roughly 1.6%, as per the NIH.
Safety Note: Naltrexone cannot be used with opioid pain medicines, so tell us about everything you take. And if you drink heavily every day, please do not stop suddenly on your own, as alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. Call us, and we will help you plan a safe first step.
Medication-Assisted Treatment in Los Angeles: How Does Our Program Work?
Our MAT program is designed so that you receive medication and therapy together under one program for a well-rounded recovery.
- Clinical Assessment: You speak with our clinicians regarding your substance use, your history, your mental health, and what you expect from treatment. We will also tell you whether our outpatient care is the right level of care for you right now.
- Consultation With Our Prescribers: Our licensed prescriber reviews your history and current medications, answers your questions, and discusses whether medication can help you at this stage. The choice is made in collaboration with you so you are an active, equal partner in your treatment.
- Medication: Timing depends on the medication and on your recent use. We will prescribe, monitor, and adjust medications as you begin treatment.
- Therapy: Depending on how much structure you need, you join our partial hospitalization program (PHP) or our intensive outpatient program (IOP). If anxiety, depression, trauma, or other underlying mental health concerns occur alongside substance use, our dual diagnosis care treats them at the same time.
- Follow-Ups: We check your dose, side effects, cravings, and how your recovery is going. Your plan changes as your needs evolve.
Who MAT Is Right For?
MAT may be a good fit if you are facing alcohol or opioid use disorders and you want to cut down or stop. It is also a good fit if you have tried to quit before and returned to use because of cravings or withdrawal. These symptoms are common among substance use disorders, and medication is designed to ease them.
MAT also works well for those who want to keep working and living at home during treatment, since care is outpatient and fits around a normal day.
Who It Is Not For
Outpatient MAT is not the right first step for those who need medical detox or 24/7 medical care. At Create Recovery, we will refer them to a detox or higher level of care provider and help plan the step into MAT when they are ready.
Common Myths About MAT
Some of the common myths you may have heard of are:
“It is just trading one drug for another.” Medication taken as prescribed treats a medical condition, much like insulin treats diabetes. These medicines are not meant to produce a high. They steady the brain so you can live your daily life in a meaningful manner. Substance use involves compulsive use that leads to harm. Taking a prescribed dose under a provider’s care is a different thing.
“You will be on it forever.” There is no fixed timeline. Some take medication for months and others for years. You and your provider decide based on how stable you are. Stopping too quickly can raise the risk of returning to use, so if you and your provider decide to taper, we plan it carefully.
Can I Keep Working During MAT?
For most, yes. MAT is outpatient care, so you live at home. Suboxone is a daily dose you take on your own schedule, and Sublocade and Vivitrol are monthly. Many of our clients in IOP keep working, so our evening IOP offers therapy and other services after work hours. PHP needs more of your day, so we plan the schedule with you.
Your treatment records are protected by federal privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 42 CFR Part 2, which gives substance use treatment records extra protection. We do not share them with your employer or anyone else without your written permission, except where the law requires it.
Insurance and Cost
At Create Recovery, we accept PPO insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cigna, among others. In-network or out-of-network coverage depends on the plan, so we check your benefits before you commit to anything. Sublocade and Vivitrol are injections, and some plans require approval ahead of time. This is called prior authorization. Our team can check your benefits and tell you whether prior authorization may be needed, so you do not have to figure this out on your own.
