Is it Okay to Use MAT for my Adolescent?
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Looking into alternative ways to help your teen get through the initial stages of withdrawal can be gut wrenching for a parent to have to watch their adolescent go through to say the least. One of the up and coming methods to helping someone withdrawal safely and comfortably is called Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Drugs are administered during MAT that are used to help patients during the beginning stages of withdrawal and continued to be dispensed during their treatment under the care of healthcare professionals.
The concept behind this type of treatment is to replace the illicit or prescription abuse with a more controllable substance with similar efficacy in the brain. Once someone goes through the severe withdrawal symptoms and experiences cravings from dependence, they can return right back to abusing substances because they are not equipped to get a handle on their addiction by themselves.
Suboxone has become highly supplied to addicted people under the medical supervision of MAT who are unable to kick their habit of narcotics on their own. The drug combines Naloxone which works to block the receptors in the brain from feeling the effects of addictive drugs, and Buprenorphine, that provides a ceiling effect to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The two medicines together produce effects like opioids and helps someone to taper off the abused substances while under the care of treatment.
The FDA has approved Suboxone for teenagers that are 16 years of age or older. Suboxone is not a restrictive type of therapy because the medication will not interfere with school work, a job, or other activities that a teenager must engage in. The criteria to use Suboxone after the age requirement is met starts with being diagnosed with a drug addiction to opioids for at least a year and has attempted at least 2 other forms of treatment that have failed. With the use of Suboxone, the parents of a teenager that has a problem with abusing drugs can have a role in making decisions for their son or daughter regarding their MAT treatment.
While Suboxone is used to help many people either use the drug in the short term to reduce the difficulties in withdrawal or use the drug when a healthcare professional feels the individual needs Suboxone as maintenance from a deeper addiction. Persons who use Suboxone for a longer period, will use the drug for a year and then reassess the situation as needed. Statistics show that people who end treatment abruptly without the consent of their doctor have a 90 percent chance to relapse which is the opposite of what Suboxone is meant to do.
Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center employs a well-trained medical staff that is qualified to manage the stages of withdrawal for our adolescent clients. We offer on-site detoxification to help keep our clients as comfortable as possible.
Call us today to start living your recovery: 662-598-4214
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