Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
How it works
Addiction changes how the brain responds to cravings and withdrawal. MAT addresses that directly. Prescribed medications such as buprenorphine reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, which stabilizes your body enough that the rest of treatment becomes possible.
That stability is the point. It is difficult to work on triggers, relationships, employment or housing while in active withdrawal. MAT is not a substitute for counseling — it is what makes counseling productive.
What is included
- Prescribed medications such as buprenorphine to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- All medications managed by licensed medical providers
- Combined with counseling for a whole-person approach
- Regular monitoring and dosage adjustments as needed
- Coordination with the rest of your treatment team
What your first appointment actually looks like
Most people have no idea what to expect, and the uncertainty is often what delays the call. Here is the sequence.
- Intake call or form. We respond within one business day. You do not need to explain everything on the phone.
- Clinical assessment. A licensed clinician meets with you privately and asks about your substance use history, physical health, mental health and living situation.
- Medical evaluation. A licensed medical provider reviews your history before anything is prescribed.
- Treatment plan. We walk you through what is being prescribed, why, what it will cost and what your schedule will look like.
- Ongoing visits. Regular appointments for monitoring, adjustment and counseling.
Bring a photo ID and your insurance or Medicaid card. If you cannot find your card, come anyway — we can start with your name and date of birth.
Is MAT right for you?
MAT is generally appropriate for people with opioid or alcohol use disorder who have a stable enough living situation to attend scheduled outpatient appointments. It can be combined with individual therapy, group therapy and care coordination.
The honest answer is that this is a clinical judgment, not a self-assessment. Our assessment determines the appropriate level of care, and if outpatient MAT is not the right fit, we will tell you and help you find what is.
Is MAT just replacing one addiction with another?
No, and this is worth addressing directly because the belief keeps people out of treatment. Medications used in MAT are prescribed at controlled doses under medical supervision to stabilize brain chemistry and eliminate withdrawal. That is a different thing from continued substance use, and SAMHSA identifies MAT as an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder.
Someone taking a prescribed, monitored medication that allows them to hold a job and care for their family is not in active addiction.
Paying for treatment
We accept West Virginia Medicaid, private insurance and self-pay. WV Medicaid requires prior authorization for most substance use disorder services — we complete that paperwork for you as part of intake rather than leaving it with you.
Verify us before you call
- Integrative Recovery Care, LLC — licensed behavioral health center, West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC)
- NPI 1083578355 — verifiable in the CMS National Provider Registry
- West Virginia Medicaid accepted
- 7 Stonecrest Drive, Huntington, WV 25701
Start today
Same-week appointments are often available. Call 304-521-2551 or submit an intake form.