What Is MAT-Friendly Sober Living

Sober living homes offer a supportive, structured, and secure environment for individuals transitioning from or nearing the completion of their addiction treatment programs. These residences are designed to provide a bridge to independent living by fostering personal growth and recovery.

MAT-friendly sober living programs are very welcoming and supportive. They help people who are using medication-assisted treatment to support their recovery. These programs provide all the support needed for a successful recovery

What Is Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)?

MAT (medication-assisted treatment) is an approach to addiction treatment that uses FDA-approved medication to aid in recovery. Therapy sessions are coupled with medication for a holistic approach to treating addiction.

Certain medications, including Suboxone and Vivitrol, are proven to be effective in reducing cravings, preventing relapse, and also preventing overdose in the case that relapse does happen. 

MAT is especially effective when treating addiction to drugs that affect the central nervous system, such as opioids and benzodiazepines. 

Sober Living Housing with Medication-Assisted Treatment 

Many sober living homes and halfway houses have strict policies against the use of any substance that can be potentially addictive. While medication-assisted treatments are beneficial to addiction recovery, some sober homes will not allow MAT residents for several reasons. 

One of the main reasons some sober living homes hesitate to welcome MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) recovery patients is the additional challenges it presents. Welcoming MAT patients can place extra burdens on the staff and administrative processes of these homes. Managing MAT patients requires someone on staff 24/7. These staff members administer the medication, which is safely stored in a lock box. 

There’s also a mindset about MAT not falling into the category of complete abstinence. This may trigger other residents who are abstinent and also not using any medication support. This mindset is fortunately shifting, but it does still exist in many sober living programs. 

Our MAT-Friendly Sober Living in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Center for Addiction is committed to helping individuals overcome their addiction through proven therapies, including medication-assisted treatment. Our sober living program fully supports individuals in their journey to long-term recovery. This includes those who are using MAT as part of their treatment program. 

Sober living with medication-assisted treatment is a fully supportive, structured, and safe environment. It serves as a bridge between addiction treatment and independent living. This transition is a significant stage of addiction recovery. We believe that someone should not have to give up their medication-assisted treatment to benefit from everything that sober living environments offer. 

How To Find MAT-Friendly Sober Living 

Even when a sober living program says it is MAT-friendly, it’s important to ask the right questions. This ensures that the program you’re considering aligns with your MAT plan. 

What Types of MAT Are Allowed?

There are a number of FDA-approved medications that are used for medication-assisted treatment for addiction and substance use disorders. These include:

• Buprenorphine – Brixadi, Probuphine, Sublocad, Subutex
• Buprenorphine with naloxone – Bunavail, Cassipa, Suboxone, Zubsolv
• Methadone hydrochloride – Methadose, Dolophine
• Naltrexone – Vivitrol 

Not every MAT-friendly sober living program is willing or equipped to help residents with every type of medication. It’s important to discuss your MAT addiction recovery plan with the sober living admissions staff to ensure that their program is compatible with your treatment. 

Is There Support Staff to Assist with Medications If Needed?

There are different approaches to MAT administration. For some, doctors or clinicians administer medications on a regular basis. Others may have access to their medications to use when needed to halt cravings and the risk of relapse. Is the staff at the sober living program trained to handle and administer the medications appropriately? 

Is the Sober Living Staff Supportive and Knowledgeable on MAT?

The growing acceptance of MAT in sober living programs marks definite progress in addiction treatment. However, its recent introduction to some facilities means that not all staff members have the same level of knowledge about medication-assisted therapies.

Ask how long the program has been working with MAT residents and what level of training the staff has in medication-assisted recovery. 

Will My Medications Be Stored On-Site?

Due to the nature of sober living recovery residences, most do not allow residents to keep any medications. Ensure you clearly understand how the facility will store and handle your medications during your stay. 

Does Their Drug Testing Differentiate Between the Use of Opioids and Opioid Agonists?

Regular drug testing to ensure abstinence is a regular part of many sober living programs. Some medications used in MAT will test positive on sensitive tests. Ensure that any drug testing procedures make accommodations for MAT residents. 

Sober Living with Medication-Assisted Treatment Is Here

Massachusetts Center for Addiction acknowledges the value of medication-assisted treatment for addiction. Our sober living program is MAT-friendly and equipped to support your transition into independent living. If you’d like to know more about our MAT-friendly sober living, contact us today at 844-486-0671.