Does Methadone Maintenance Treatment Include Behavioral Therapy?

Methadone maintenance treatment, in order to be an official MMT program, must always include some sort of behavioral therapy for patients. Call 800-994-1867Who Answers? to find well-rounded, safe, reliable treatment options that will cater to your needs.

Methadone Maintenance Must Include Behavioral Therapy

As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Combined with behavioral therapies or counseling and other supportive services, methadone enables patients to stop using heroin (and other opiates) and return to more stable and productive lives.”

While methadone is effective at treating opioid addiction, it is not enough on its own to decidedly end an individual’s drug abuse or to keep them from relapsing forever.

Patients learn the pros and cons of drug abuse while taking part in behavioral therapy.

An individual needs to learn not only how but also why they must stop abusing opioids. Behavioral therapy changes an individual’s perspective on their substance abuse while also teaching them:

• How to recognize and avoid triggers.
• Better ways to cope with stress and cravings when they occur.
• How to talk to others about their addictions and their needs for recovery.
• The pros and cons of continued drug abuse.
• New and better behaviors that are consistent with a drug-free lifestyle.

Without behavioral therapy, patients will not receive the long-term help they need and will not be able to make permanent changes in order to avoid further substance abuse.

How Does MMT Include Behavioral Therapy?

According to the National Institute of Justice, “In addition to administering medication, MMT also involves providing patients with comprehensive rehabilitation services,” including access to behavioral therapy sessions. Usually, these programs include both group and individualized therapy, although some outpatient centers may not be able to offer as many options as residential facilities can due to resource restrictions.

Most MMT programs ensure that, when patients visit the facility to receive their medication, they will also be scheduled to attend behavioral therapy. Programs that provide residential treatment often have stricter schedules and more intensive treatment for patients, which is often necessary for those struggling with long-term addiction, multiple relapses, co-morbid disorders, etc.

Some outpatient centers may offer patients referrals to other facilities where they can receive this treatment option, but those that can provide it on-site (inpatient- and outpatient-based) are usually much more beneficial to one’s recovery.

Do Methadone Clinics Offer Counseling?

It’s not uncommon for people battling chronic opiate addictions to experience multiple failed attempts at rehab. In cases where other …

The doctors, nurses, and therapists involved in your MMT program will ensure that your medication and therapy will be used together to create a stronger foundation of recovery for you and to help you better avoid any issues associated with your recovery. Methadone helps maintain individuals in treatment so they can better focus on their behavioral therapy sessions and not their withdrawal or cravings.

Behavioral therapy helps teach patients new ways to see their addictions as well as better coping skills and behaviors that will allow them to use methadone as directed and continue their recovery in the safest and most effective way possible. When used together, these two options are usually at their strongest, which is why any MMT program should provide both.

Do You Need Addiction Treatment for Opioid Abuse?

Call 800-994-1867Who Answers? today. We can help you find rehab programs that will provide you with the options you need in the best setting for your current stage of recovery. We can also discuss your payment options as well as answer any other questions you may have about opioid addiction and treatment.