Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Support in Texas

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a whole-patient approach to addiction recovery. It pairs FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders — primarily addiction to opioids (like prescription painkillers, heroin, or fentanyl) and alcohol.

For many people, severe physical cravings and painful withdrawal symptoms act as a brick wall that stops recovery before it even starts. Medication lowers that wall. But medication alone is only half of MAT — national guidelines from SAMHSA define it as medication combined with counseling and behavioral therapy.

Who Our MAT-Friendly Program Supports

Opioid Use Disorder

If you’re taking — or considering — buprenorphine (Suboxone) or naltrexone (Vivitrol) for addiction to prescription painkillers, heroin, or fentanyl, our program is built to support you. These medications ease withdrawal, reduce cravings, and lower overdose risk while you do the behavioral work of recovery in therapy.

Alcohol Use Disorder

Medications like naltrexone or acamprosate can help quiet alcohol cravings and support abstinence. They work best when combined with the structure and accountability of our intensive outpatient program.

Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions

When addiction shows up alongside depression, anxiety, or trauma, we treat both at the same time. Medication stabilizes the physical side while our dual diagnosis treatment addresses the underlying mental health conditions.

How MAT Support Works at Arise

1. Confidential Assessment

You start with a clinical assessment to determine whether MAT fits your situation and which level of outpatient care is right for you.

2. Insurance Verification

Our team verifies your insurance benefits upfront so there are no surprises about coverage for your treatment program.

3. Medication Coordination + Counseling

We coordinate with your prescriber — or connect you with a trusted MAT provider — while you participate in our Intensive Outpatient Program, which includes group and individual therapy with master’s-level clinicians. Our medication management support keeps everything on one plan.

4. Step-Down Support

As you stabilize, we monitor your progress with your prescriber and help you build a long-term aftercare and relapse-prevention plan.

Why a MAT-Friendly IOP Matters

A prescription alone cannot cure addiction — and therapy alone can be an uphill battle against physical cravings. MAT works because both halves work together. At Arise, your prescriber manages the medication, our master’s-level clinicians deliver the therapy in a Joint Commission-accredited Intensive Outpatient Program, and we keep both sides of your care talking so nothing falls through the cracks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I join your IOP if I’m already taking Suboxone or Vivitrol?

Yes. Arise is a MAT-friendly program. Clients prescribed FDA-approved medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder are welcome in our IOP, and we coordinate with your prescriber throughout treatment.

Does Arise prescribe Suboxone?

Our focus is the counseling and behavioral-therapy half of MAT. We coordinate the medication side with prescribing providers — either your current prescriber or a trusted MAT provider near one of our Texas locations that we can connect you with.

Is MAT just replacing one drug with another?

No. This is a common misconception. When taken as prescribed, medications like buprenorphine stabilize brain chemistry and reduce cravings without producing a “high.” Major health authorities, including SAMHSA and the FDA, recognize MAT as an evidence-based treatment, not a substitute addiction.

Is Suboxone legal in Texas?

Yes. Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication for opioid use disorder and is legally prescribed in Texas by licensed clinicians in office-based settings.

Do I have to go through detox first?

Not necessarily, but it depends on your current usage. If stopping a substance suddenly could be unsafe, medically supervised detox may be required before starting outpatient treatment. Our initial assessment will determine the safest starting point for you.

Does insurance cover Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Most major insurance plans cover both the therapy and medication components of MAT when medically necessary. Arise verifies your benefits for our outpatient program before you begin; medication coverage runs through your prescriber and pharmacy benefits.