Medication Assisted Treatment – Paugus Bay Behavioral Health

Medication Assisted Treatment in New Hampshire

Types of Treatment

Opioid Use Disorder

Alcohol Use Disorder

Mental Health

What is MAT?

Supports Sobriety: MAT combines medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to provide comprehensive treatment for substance use disorders, helping individuals maintain sobriety and reduce the risk of relapse.
Reduces Cravings and Withdrawal Symptoms: Medications used in MAT, such as buprenorphine or naltrexone, help alleviate cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with substance use, making it easier for individuals to focus on their recovery goals.
Improves Treatment Outcomes: Research has shown that MAT can significantly improve treatment outcomes, including increased retention in treatment, reduced illicit drug use, and lower rates of overdose and mortality.
Addresses Underlying Neurochemical Imbalances: Substance use disorders often involve disruptions in brain chemistry, leading to compulsive drug-seeking behaviors. MAT medications target these underlying neurochemical imbalances, restoring balance and promoting stability in early recovery.
Enhances Quality of Life: By stabilizing mood, reducing cravings, and improving overall well-being, MAT can enhance the quality of life for individuals in early recovery, allowing them to focus on rebuilding their lives and pursuing long-term recovery goals.

MAT for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

Reduces Cravings and Withdrawal: MAT medications such as buprenorphine and methadone help to alleviate cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid use disorder, making it easier for individuals to abstain from opioid use.
Prevents Relapse: MAT reduces the risk of relapse by blocking the euphoric effects of opioids or reducing their appeal, helping individuals to maintain sobriety and stability in recovery.
Improves Treatment Retention: Research has shown that individuals receiving MAT are more likely to remain engaged in treatment over time, leading to improved treatment outcomes and reduced rates of dropout.
Reduces Risk of Overdose and Mortality: MAT has been associated with lower rates of opioid-related overdose and mortality, as individuals receiving MAT are less likely to engage in high-risk opioid use behaviors.
Promotes Psychosocial Stability: MAT provides a stable foundation for recovery by addressing the physiological aspects of opioid dependence, allowing individuals to focus on addressing underlying psychological and social issues through counseling and therapy.

MAT for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Restores Neurochemical Balance: MAT medications help restore balance to neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which may be disrupted by chronic alcohol use, reducing cravings and stabilizing mood.
Facilitates Behavioral Change: MAT provides a supportive foundation for individuals to engage in behavioral therapies and develop healthier coping strategies, leading to sustained recovery from alcohol use disorder.
Individualized Treatment Approach: MAT for alcohol use disorder can be tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences, allowing for a personalized treatment plan that addresses the unique challenges and circumstances of each person.
Enhances Treatment Engagement: MAT increases treatment engagement and retention by providing tangible relief from cravings and withdrawal symptoms, motivating individuals to remain actively involved in their recovery journey.
Promotes Abstinence: MAT increases the likelihood of achieving and maintaining abstinence from alcohol by reducing the reinforcing effects of alcohol consumption and diminishing the desire to drink.

Medications For Mental Health

Antidepressants: Medications such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) are commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and certain other mood disorders by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
Antipsychotics: These medications are used to manage symptoms of psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, in conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain.
Mood Stabilizers: Mood stabilizers like lithium and anticonvulsants such as valproate and lamotrigine are used to treat bipolar disorder by stabilizing mood fluctuations and preventing episodes of mania and depression.
Second-Generation Antidepressants (Atypical Antidepressants): These include medications such as mirtazapine and trazodone, which are used to treat depression and sometimes anxiety disorders by affecting neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
Alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonists: Medications like clonidine and guanfacine are sometimes used off-label to treat symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, or PTSD by affecting the release of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, but they are not considered addictive substances.

Our Medical Director

Dr. Ryan Wakim, MD

Ryan J. Wakim, M.D. completed his undergraduate education at Wheeling Jesuit University before moving to Morgantown to attend West Virginia University where he completed his primary medical education and residency as chief resident of psychiatry.

He is board certified in psychiatry with personal interests in addiction, mood disorders, and trauma-related disorders.