Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) in Kansas City

Medications for addiction treatment can make a huge difference in recovery, particularly in the early stages when a person is feeling their most vulnerable. By easing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and reducing intense cravings, opioid and alcohol addiction medications give people a better chance at achieving long-term sobriety.  

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is an approach that combines prescription medications with therapy, counseling, and group support to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). These programs have become an increasingly common approach for opioid and alcohol addiction, helping to stabilize patients’ brain chemistry and support lasting behavioral change.  

At Empowered Recovery Kansas City, MAT is part of a comprehensive, individualized, evidence-based treatment program. With the right support, addiction recovery is within reach for patients at our Kansas City alcohol and drug rehab. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)  

Medication-Assisted Treatment, or MAT for short, is a treatment approach that involves the use of prescription medications alongside counseling and behavioral therapies to treat addiction, otherwise known as substance use disorder.   

MAT provides a whole-patient approach to treat addictions to alcohol and opioids like heroin or prescription pain relievers. The medications used in MAT help treat substance use disorders by blocking the effects of the addictive substances, realigning the chemistry of the brain, and relieving one’s cravings for addictive substances. 

When used in combination with proven behavioral therapies, peer support, and counseling, MAT has proven effective in helping people remain committed to their sobriety.1   

Opioid Addiction Treatment Medications  

Opioids are a class of drugs that derive from or mimic certain natural substances found in the opium poppy plant.   

The chief characteristic of opioids—including heroin, morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl—is that they relieve pain. However, some people use opioids to attain the “high” that opioids produce, which can lead to opioid addiction, otherwise known as opioid use disorder (OUD).  

Either when used by themselves or in combination with other drugs like alcohol or stimulants, opioids are a major player in the drug overdose crisis that continues to plague the nation. In fact, the majority of overdose deaths in recent years has involved illicitly manufactured fentanyl and other extremely potent synthetic opioids.2 Fortunately, there exist several medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help treat OUD.  

Buprenorphine  

Buprenorphine is a Schedule III narcotic that is used as a daily-dose sublingual tablet or filmstrip for managing opioid use disorder (OUD). Being a partial opioid agonist, it produces opioid-like effects at low to moderate doses that alleviate opioid cravings and decrease the intensity of opioid withdrawal.   

Even at high doses, buprenorphine has a limit to its opioid-like effects, which serves to reduce the risk of misuse and overdose. 3,4 Buprenorphine is sold under several brand names, including Cizdol®, Brixadi®, Suboxone®, Subutex®, and Zubsolv®.  

Suboxone  

Suboxone® is a brand-name opioid prescription drug that can be used to stabilize a patient in opioid withdrawal during the medical detoxification process. It is also used as a maintenance treatment to promote long-term recovery from OUD.  

Suboxone® consists of a combination of two drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist. It is administered as a dissolvable tablet or sublingual film.3  

Methadone   

Methadone is a long-acting OUD medication that comes in liquid, powder, or tablet form. The drug reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms while blocking the effects of other opioids. When taken as prescribed, methadone is safe, effective, and supportive of long-term recovery. 4,5 

Because methadone is a controlled substance, it can only be dispensed through federally certified Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs). Brand names for methadone include Dolophine® and Methadose®.  

Naltrexone   

Naltrexone is a medication that helps people recover from OUD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) by blocking the brain’s opioid receptors, preventing the “high” from these substances. It also reduces cravings, making it a valuable tool for long-term recovery. Approved by the FDA, naltrexone is available as a daily-dose pill under the brand names ReVia® and Depade®, and as a monthly injection under the brand name Vivitrol®.4,6  

Because it does not produce any sedating or euphoric effects, naltrexone has zero abuse potential. However, taking it in combination with opioids can trigger sudden withdrawal symptoms.  

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Medications  

In addition to therapy and counseling, several FDA-approved medications can be prescribed to help patients detox and recover from alcohol use disorder. These drugs generally work either by decreasing the patient’s cravings for alcohol or causing uncomfortable symptoms in the patient if they drink.  

Disulfiram  

Sold under the brand name Antabuse®, disulfiram is a prescription medication used to treat AUD. Rather than reducing cravings for alcohol, the drug acts as a psychological deterrent by causing unpleasant physical symptoms when alcohol is consumed. It works by interfering with alcohol metabolism, producing toxic byproducts in the body that make drinking alcohol extremely uncomfortable. Taken orally, disulfiram is FDA-approved and has zero abuse potential.7 

Acamprosate   

Sold under the brand name Campral®, acamprosate is an FDA-approved prescription medication used to help people in AUD recovery avoid relapse. It is taken as a delayed-release tablet (typically three times a day) to help those who have already quit drinking stay sober.  

While its exact mechanism of action is still being studied, acamprosate seems to restore balance between brain chemicals disrupted by long-term alcohol use. This helps reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. Acamprosate is safe for people with liver disease or hepatitis, two conditions common among heavy drinkers.8  

Naltrexone  

Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors, mainly the mu-opioid receptor, reducing the effects of alcohol. It also affects the brain’s stress-response system to curb alcohol use. There is no abuse and diversion potential with naltrexone, and side effects tend to be mild. It is typically prescribed after alcohol detox is completed.9  

Does Insurance Cover Addiction Medications? 

Most insurance plans cover some or all of the cost of prescription drug addiction medications. As required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, behavioral health treatments—including MAT, counseling, and therapy—fall under the category of essential healthcare benefits.  

Still, the exact amount of coverage for addiction medications depends on the specific healthcare plan, so it’s a good idea to contact your insurance provider and ask about coverage of specific medications and services before entering treatment. The admissions team at Empowered Recovery Center can also verify your benefits and answer any questions about coverage of medications in MAT.  

Addiction Treatment Medications in Kansas City  

If you’re ready to break free from the vicious cycles of OUD or AUD and take back your life, reach out to Empowered Recovery Center in Kansas City today. At Empowered Recovery Center, we know that recovery isn’t just about saying “no,” it’s about tapping your inner strength, rebuilding your confidence, and stepping into a future you can look forward to.  

Our addiction treatment programs are built around you. Whether you’re looking for partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), or standard outpatient care, we tailor an individualized plan that meets your recovery goals. Plus, after you’ve completed your treatment, we stay with you, offering one full year of free recovery coaching to keep you on track.  

And if you’re wondering about insurance or how to pay for rehab, our admissions team can answer any questions you might have. We can verify your benefits and assist you with out-of-network coverage plans.  

Have questions? Call us today!  

References 

1. Illinois Department of Public Health (n.d.). What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment? State of Illinois. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/opioids/treatment/mat-faq.html 
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (2024). Drug Overdose Deaths: Facts and Figures. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates#Fig2 
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.) Buprenorphine Quick Start Guide. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/quick-start-guide.pdf 
4. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (n.d.). Medication for Opioid Use Disorder. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.azahcccs.gov/Members/BehavioralHealthServices/OpioidUseDisorderAndTreatment/MAT.html 
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.) Methadone. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options/methadone 
6. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (n.d.) What is Naltrexone? University of Arkansas. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://psychiatry.uams.edu/clinical-care/outpatient-care/cast/what-is-naltrexone/ 
7. U.S. National Library of Medicine (2024). Disulfiram. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459340/
8. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2012). Acamprosate for Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Clinical Utility. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3277871/ 
9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). What is Naltrexone? Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/naltrexone