Addiction

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Addiction is a chronic disorder with biological, psychological, social and environmental factors influencing its development and maintenance. About half the risk for addiction is genetic.

Nearly 1 million adolescents ages 12-17 

5.1 million young adults ages 18-25 

13.6 million adults ages 26 or older 

Over 1 million adults ages 65 and over 

Addiction is strongly associated with mental health conditions, including:  Anxiety Depression Bipolar Disorder ADD/ADHD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

The emotional toll of drug addiction is greatest on the addicted individual themselves as the pre-existing emotional turmoil that created feelings of anxiety, shame, guilt, and worthlessness intensify as the chemical dependency deepens; a downward cycle of pain-drug use-pain, and worsening drug use to mask the pain continues.  Addiction-Drug abuse also creates fresh emotional wounds, pain and misery for everyone in the addict's  social and family circles.

For individuals with Opioid addiction and abuse, there is MAT.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. 

One medication used in MAT, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and MAT programs is Buprenorphine used for abstinence from Opioids.

MAT is the medication portion of a recovery program.  

Research shows that a combination of medication and therapy can successfully treat addiction disorders, and for some people struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain recovery. 

MAT is also used to prevent or reduce opioid overdose.