Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, combines FDA-approved medication with counseling and support to ease withdrawal, quiet cravings, and lower the risk of overdose in opioid and alcohol use disorder. SAMHSA recommends medication alongside behavioral care rather than on its own. Recover Now is the front door to a network of facilities across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee, and the team on our helpline will tell you which of them can provide MAT, whether your plan covers it, and what the next step looks like.
Have questions? Just reach out.
Our team is available 24/7 to talk. Always with compassion, never with pressure.
MAT at a Glance
- MAT treats opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder by pairing an FDA-approved medication with counseling.
- Medication choice, dose, and setting are decided by a clinician after an assessment, never in advance.
- MAT is offered at select facilities in the Recover Now network. One call confirms which one fits.
- Most major commercial plans, TRICARE, and VA are accepted. Coverage is confirmed per plan before you commit.
- The helpline runs 24/7. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
What is medication-assisted treatment?
MAT is the use of an FDA-approved medication, together with counseling and recovery support, to treat opioid or alcohol use disorder. The medication reduces withdrawal and craving so that therapy has something to work with. You will also see the term MOUD, medications for opioid use disorder, which refers to the medication half of the same approach.
SAMHSA and NIDA both describe medication plus behavioral care as an evidence-based approach to opioid and alcohol use disorder. Medication is not a replacement for treatment. It is what makes the rest of treatment reachable for many people.
Two things follow from that, and they shape everything below. The right medication is a clinical decision, made after an assessment of your history, your health, and your goals. And the setting matters, because some medications are prescribed in an office or outpatient program while others are dispensed only through federally licensed opioid treatment programs.
Who MAT is for
MAT is for adults with opioid use disorder, and for many adults with alcohol use disorder, when a clinician finds it appropriate. It is considered most often when withdrawal is severe, when overdose risk is high, or when abstinence-only approaches have not held.
Signs it may be worth asking about:
- Daily or heavy opioid or alcohol use, or physical dependence.
- A recent overdose, or a close call.
- Withdrawal that is severe enough to be unsafe to manage alone.
- Several unsuccessful attempts at stopping without medication.
- A co-occurring mental health condition that keeps pulling you back.
Family members and referring providers can start the same conversation on someone else's behalf. Pregnancy changes the clinical picture and calls for care coordinated with an obstetric team, so raise it early in the assessment.
The medications used in MAT
Three medication classes are FDA-approved for opioid use disorder, and three are commonly used for alcohol use disorder. The table below describes the category as SAMHSA and NIDA define it. Which of these a given Recover Now network facility can offer is a facility-level question, and the helpline will answer it for your situation before you travel anywhere.
| Medication | Used for | How it works | Where it is prescribed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine | Opioid use disorder | Partial opioid agonist. Reduces withdrawal and craving | Office-based and outpatient settings, including extended-release injection |
| Methadone | Opioid use disorder | Full opioid agonist, taken daily under supervision early on | Federally licensed opioid treatment programs only |
| Naltrexone | Opioid or alcohol use disorder | Blocks opioid effects and reduces alcohol craving. Oral or monthly injection | Outpatient settings, after opioids have fully cleared |
| Acamprosate | Alcohol use disorder | Supports abstinence after withdrawal has resolved | Outpatient settings |
| Disulfiram | Alcohol use disorder | Causes an unpleasant reaction if alcohol is used | Outpatient settings, with monitoring |
Every one of these can cause physical dependence or side effects, and every one requires clinical oversight. Physical dependence on a prescribed, monitored medication is not the same thing as an untreated substance use disorder, a distinction SAMHSA makes directly. Ask your prescriber about naloxone, which SAMHSA recommends keeping on hand for anyone at risk of opioid overdose.
What to expect when you call
The path from first call to first appointment is short and it is the same for everyone.
- One call, one honest answer. Tell us what is going on. The helpline is staffed 24 hours a day and the conversation is confidential.
- Free benefits verification. We check your coverage, in network status, and what you would owe, before you commit to anything.
- A match to the right facility. MAT is available at select facilities in the network. We tell you which ones can help, and what level of care they offer around the medication.
- A clinical assessment at the facility. The facility's clinical team reviews your medical history, substance use history, and mental health history, and decides with you whether medication is appropriate and which one.
- Ongoing care. If medication is part of your plan, the facility manages dosing, monitoring, and the counseling that goes with it, and adjusts as you stabilize.
How quickly you can start depends on the facility, your assessment, and your coverage. We will tell you what is realistic on the first call rather than after it.
Care for mental health and substance use together
Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder often sit underneath opioid or alcohol use, and treating one without the other tends not to hold. Facilities in the Recover Now network that treat co-occurring conditions coordinate medication management and therapy in a single plan rather than running two separate courses of treatment.
Explore related programs
Where we provide MAT
Recover Now connects people to treatment across five Southeastern states.
These facilities in our network provide dedicated MAT programs. Check each location page for its own levels of care, licensure and accreditation, which differ by site.
Recover Now Greater Atlanta
155 Greensboro Rd,
Eatonton 31024
Medical detox and residential treatment serving greater Atlanta, with medication-assisted treatment including naltrexone, Vivitrol and Sublocade.
Website for Recover Now Greater Atlanta
Learn More about Recover Now Greater Atlanta View Map for Recover Now Greater Atlanta
Chattanooga Recovery Center
13 W Kent St,
Chattanooga 37405
Outpatient care in Chattanooga: PHP, IOP, evening outpatient treatment and medication-assisted treatment.
Website for Chattanooga Recovery Center
Learn More about Chattanooga Recovery Center View Map for Chattanooga Recovery Center
Green Acres Wellness
15320 Co Rd 129,
Alapaha 31622
Medical detox and residential treatment on a rural south Georgia campus, with medication-assisted treatment and dual-diagnosis support.
Website for Green Acres Wellness
Learn More about Green Acres Wellness View Map for Green Acres Wellness
Each of our residential locations is designed to feel safe, calm, and comfortable. The goal is to offer the structure you need in an environment that feels more like a retreat than a hospital. If you're unsure which location is right for you, we're here to help you find the best fit.
Therapies that work alongside medication
Medication is one half of MAT. The counseling half is where the patterns, the triggers, and the life around the substance get addressed. Network facilities commonly use:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, to change the thinking that leads back to use.
- Motivational interviewing, to build and hold readiness.
- Dialectical behavior therapy skills, for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.
- Group therapy, for peer support and relapse-prevention practice.
- Family therapy and family education.
- Relapse-prevention planning and case management.
Which of these a facility offers varies. The helpline will tell you what a specific location provides before you start.
Where MAT fits in the continuum
MAT is not a level of care. It is a treatment approach that sits inside one. Depending on the facility and your assessment, medication may be started or continued during or after detox, alongside an outpatient or intensive outpatient program, or as part of ongoing recovery support.
Explore levels of care
- Detox Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Addiction
- Outpatient Rehab
- Intensive Outpatient Program
- All Treatment Programs
- Addiction Treatment
Why Choose Recover Now For Medication-Assisted Treatment?
One call, ten facilities, five states.
You describe your situation once instead of repeating it to a dozen intake lines.
All three clinical categories in one network.
Substance use, mental health and eating disorders, with a full continuum behind them.
A real veterans track.
VA and TRICARE acceptance, plus dedicated veteran sober-living houses.
Accreditation you can check.
Recover Now holds CARF, Joint Commission and LegitScript recognition at network level. Accreditation and licensure differ by facility, and each location page states its own.
Insurance and Payment Options
Coverage for MAT depends on your plan, the facility's network status, and medical necessity. Verification is free, confidential, and takes one conversation. Plans accepted across the network include Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Optum, Humana, Ambetter, Magellan, Beacon Health Options, TRICARE, and VA. Acceptance varies by facility, which is part of what verification confirms.
Stories of Hope from Real People Who Found Recovery
Great facility! The staff has been phenomenal in helping through the process here as well as setting up a successful aftercare plan! Would recommend to anyone struggling.
- Savannah
The people here were amazing. I never expected the treatment or the people here to have such a drastic effect on my life.
- Mike
This place saved my life! 15 different treatments and this was the one! Almost 2 years sober. The staff cares and still reaches out.
- Matt
Looking for a different level of care?
MAT is not a level of care. It is a treatment approach that sits inside one. Depending on the facility and your assessment, medication may be started or continued during or after detox, or alongside an outpatient program. Facilities across the Recover Now network cover the full continuum, and here is what usually sits on either side of MAT.
Still not sure which level of care is right for you? That’s completely normal. Our team is here to talk through your options and help you make a confident, informed decision.
Accreditation and trust
The Recover Now network holds The Joint Commission's National Quality Approval and is LegitScript verified.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your specific situation. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
If you need someone right now
Start MAT today
You do not need to have it figured out before you call. One conversation tells you whether MAT is an option, where it is available, and what your coverage will do.