Best Rehabs with Medication-Assisted Treatment in Missouri

More About Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines FDA-approved medications with counseling to treat opioid or alcohol use disorder, easing cravings and withdrawal so you can focus on recovery.

What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?

Medication-assisted treatment pairs FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD).^1,2

For opioid use disorder, medications such as methadone and buprenorphine ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings by acting on the same brain receptors as heroin and other opioids, without producing the same intense high.¹

For alcohol use disorder, medications work differently:²

• Naltrexone reduces cravings.
• Acamprosate eases post-drinking discomfort.

Research supports combining medication with counseling over medication alone. For opioid use disorder, combining the two improves treatment retention and lowers the risk of returning to opioid use.³ For alcohol use disorder, medications are often paired with counseling or mutual support groups for added benefit.²

Despite this evidence, fewer than one in five people with opioid use disorder currently receive these medications.⁴

Evidence-Based Treatment

Federal research agencies, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, recognize MAT as an evidence-based standard of care for opioid and alcohol use disorder.^1,2

Unfortunately, federal data shows that most people with opioid use disorder don't currently receive these medications, which points to a gap between the research and real-world access.⁴

Who Medication-Assisted Treatment May Help

Medication-assisted treatment can help a wide variety of people who want to stop to their active addiction and begin recovery. These can include:

• People with opioid use disorder who want help managing withdrawal and cravings.
• People with alcohol use disorder who want support reducing or stopping drinking.
• People with a co-occurring mental health condition alongside a substance use disorder.
• People recovering from misuse of prescription drugs.
• Pregnant and postpartum patients, since medical research shows MAT is safe and effective during pregnancy and breastfeeding when supervised by a healthcare provider.¹
• People in early recovery who need extra support staying engaged in treatment.

MAT isn't the right fit for everyone, and that's okay. Your provider can help you weigh your options prior to making a decision on how you want to proceed.

What to Expect

If you are considering medication-assisted treatment, you likely have several questions, including what to expect. Being aware of how the process typically goes can help you feel more comfortable.

1. Assessment: First, you'll start with an assessment from a prescriber, such as a psychiatrist, doctor, or nurse practitioner, who reviews your health history and substance use.
2. Medication planning: Should you prescriber recommend a medication based on your needs (such as a partial agonist like buprenorphine or injectable options like Vivitrol), they will prescribe it to you with directions on how to take it.
3. Medication management: You'll have regular check-ins so your provider can monitor your progress and adjust your plan.
4. Counseling: Most programs pair MAT with individual or group therapy to address the thoughts and behaviors connected to substance use.

Treatment length varies. Some people use MAT for a few months, and others continue for years as part of long-term recovery. This is a decision that will be between you and your provider based on your success and goals.

Related Treatment Approaches

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Frequently combined with MAT to address the thought patterns and behaviors that drive substance use.
• Motivational interviewing (MI): Often used alongside MAT to strengthen your motivation to stay engaged with treatment.
• Relapse prevention counseling: Complements MAT during the maintenance phase by building coping strategies for high-risk situations.
• The Sinclair Method: A related medication-based approach specifically for alcohol use disorder, using naltrexone in a different protocol.

Cost and Insurance

The cost of MAT depends on factors like which medication you use, how often you need clinic visits, and whether your program includes counseling.

Medicaid programs are required to offer coverage for FDA-approved MAT medications and overdose reversal tools like naloxone, and many Medicare and private insurance plans provide at least partial coverage as well.

It helps to ask your insurer about network coverage, prior authorization, and any visit limits before you start treatment.

Get Help For Yourself or A Loved One Today

Recovery may seem daunting, but effective help is available. Explore residential drug rehabs or specialized alcohol addiction treatment programs to find the right environment for healing. Use our free tool to search for addiction treatment by insurance, location, and amenities now.

Sources

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2025). Medications for opioid use disorder. National Institutes of Health.
2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Understanding alcohol use disorder. National Institutes of Health.
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2025). Opioids. National Institutes of Health.
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023). Only 1 in 5 U.S. adults with opioid use disorder received medications to treat it in 2021. National Institutes of Health.
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Medicaid coverage of medication-assisted treatment for alcohol and opioid use disorders and of medication for the reversal of opioid overdose.