Substance Use Disorder Treatment Steps & FAQs

Medication assisted treatment, or MAT, is a combination of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication and recovery supports.

MAT can be residential or outpatient.

The main MAT medications are:

•  Naltrexone (Vivitrol®)
• Methadone
• Buprenorphine (Suboxone®)

MAT has proven to be highly effective for opioid dependence. Naltrexone may also help some alcohol use disorders.

Recovery supports include group or individual therapy, safe and stable housing, employment programs, childcare and healthy social activities. Most successful therapy involves family and friends. Many people find peer support — support from people who have been in recovery for a long time — very helpful.

Substance use disorders affect people of all ages from all walks of life. Each recovery journey will be as unique as the person making it.

What we think of as “detox” is basically whatever is medically necessary to stabilize a person so they are well enough to begin treatment. This might be withdrawal management, when substances leave a user’s body, with painful and potentially dangerous side effects, or if a person uses opioids, stabilization might mean starting on a medication. This can be outpatient or inpatient, depending on a person’s level of need. Treatment of a substance use disorder includes all care and management that helps a person no longer use, use less of, or become no longer dependent on a substance. This can include education, individual and family counseling, therapy, medication and recovery supports. Addiction is a chronic medical condition that doesn’t lend itself to one-time intervention. People who have been through treatment still have the neurobiological disease of addiction. Addiction can be under good management, though, the way other chronic health conditions such as diabetes can be successfully managed. Many people have flare-ups, but with more treatment, can go on to happy, healthy decades of sobriety.

Addiction is a chronic medical condition that doesn’t lend itself to one-time intervention. People who have been through treatment still have the neurobiological disease of addiction. Addiction can be under good management, though, the way other chronic health conditions such as diabetes can be successfully managed. Like with diabetes, many people have flare-ups, but with more treatment, can go on to happy, healthy decades of sobriety.

Private insurance is now federally required to cover substance use disorder and mental health treatment. Also, many providers accept Medicaid. If you don't have insurance through your employer, the fastest way to apply for health care coverage, including Alaska Medicaid, is through healthcare.gov. If you have coverage questions, call your insurance provider or the Alaska Division of Insurance, 907-269-7900.

No, nor for transportation to out-of-state treatment. Alaska Medicaid only pays for substance use disorder treatment in Alaska.

Not in Alaska. No treatment facilities here are designed hold people against their will.