The Stigma of Medication Assisted Treatment

Treating patients with medications such as methadone quickly ran into opposition. Those with little knowledge or understanding of heroin addiction were questioning why Dole and Nyswander were giving opioids to drug addicts. The stigma against drug users extended to the use of one of the most effective treatments ever developed. MAT became a hot political issue. 

Despite the controversy, however, in the 1970s, the Nixon administration put into effect the regulations governing Opioid Treatment Programs, otherwise known as Methadone Clinics. They started to open mostly in urban areas heavily affected by heroin use. They remained controversial – not everyone got better right away, while others continued to use heroin or tried to sell their methadone. Even though these were the minority, they had the effect of increasing the stigma against all methadone clinics and their patients.

For the vast majority of MAT patients, treatment with methadone is lifesaving, reduces the risk of overdose, and gets the “monkey” of heroin and opioid (and more recently fentanyl) addiction off their backs. Now, there are almost 2,000 Opioid Treatment Programs in the US. They are located in many large and small cities and are available to a large percentage of our population. They continue to be regulated by the federal government, with strict rules on who can be admitted, the initial doses allowed, and whether doses need to be taken under observation in the clinic or can be taken at home.

The Advent of Buprenorphine

Legislation allowing the use of a different drug, buprenorphine, passed in 2002, and Suboxone, the first preparation of buprenorphine for treating opioid addiction, was approved in October of that year. 

Buprenorphine is less effective than methadone, but it is also safer. It can be administered in a physician’s office rather than a specialized clinic. For many years, a special designation called an “X-waiver” was necessary before a physician was allowed to prescribe Suboxone. Eight hours of training were required just to offer Suboxone treatments.

Buprenorphine greatly expanded the availability of MAT beyond the areas where methadone clinics were located. Most methadone clinics started offering both methadone and buprenorphine, depending on the patient’s needs and preferences. Due to the stigma against people with addictions, however, implementation of the X-waiver was slow. Eventually, in January 2023, the X-waiver was dropped. Now, any medical provider (physician, nurse-practitioner, or physician assistant) who has a regular DEA license can prescribe buprenorphine (although methadone can still only be used in Opioid Treatment Programs).

How Does Medication Assisted Treatment Work?

What makes medications like methadone and buprenorphine so successful is their ability to alleviate withdrawal symptoms without causing further addictive tendencies. What many people, politicians and patients alike, don’t understand is that while these medications are both classed as opioids, they work very differently from what patients have usually used in the past.

Both medications activate the same neural pathways as traditional opioids. However, they do not produce the same euphoric effects, meaning it is less likely to become addictive. In addition, when methadone and buprenorphine bind to opioid receptors in the brain, they prevent other opioids from binding to them, helping to reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent cravings.

This gives patients the valuable time they need to work through the underlying reasons for using opioids in the first place. Medication-assisted treatment can help patients stabilize and return to life before their addiction treatment so they can get back on track. These are just a few of the reasons MAT is such an important treatment option for those suffering from substance abuse disorders.

Making MAT Available for Everyone Who Needs It

Medication-assisted treatment is one of the most effective treatments anywhere in medicine, and it treats a condition with a high risk of overdose, death, and social disruption. Yet the vast majority of people struggling with an addiction to opioids – prescription pain pills, heroin, or, these days, more likely, fentanyl – do not get the right treatment.

There is still much stigma around those who have an addiction. Despite overwhelming scientific research to the contrary, many are still regarded as “weak” people who “just need to quit.”  Unfortunately, it is never that simple. Even people who desperately want to quit can’t do so without help – and willpower only gets people so far. Expert counseling, along with medication, is the key to success. People need to get onto MAT and stay on it long enough for long-term success. 

A substance addiction can take years to develop. It’s unreasonable to expect a cure in weeks or months. Medication-assisted treatment offers a solution to allow people to grow out of their addiction and stay on the long path to recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, the best thing to do is to help them get onto MAT as soon as possible – MAT is the key that releases people from the prison of their addiction.

Get Medication Assisted Treatment at CMS

Community Medical Services dedicates itself to helping individuals struggling with substance addictions reclaim their lives. We treat patients using a holistic method that focuses on both the physical symptoms of their addiction and the deeper psychological issues leading to it.

Our 70 clinics across the United States offer medication-assisted treatment programs featuring methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone to accommodate our patients’ needs better. We also offer counseling, peer support groups, and the resources you need to stay the course during your addiction treatment.

Find your nearest Community Medical Services clinic and book an appointment today. A brighter, addiction-free future is just a call or click away.

About the Author

Dr. Robert Sherrick was appointed CMS’s first Chief Science Officer in 2023, transitioning from Chief Medical Officer, a role he served for years.

Before serving CMS, he had experience working at an inpatient addiction treatment facility in Montana, Pathways Treatment Center, treating all forms of Substance Use Disorders and dual-diagnosis patients. Dr. Sherrick has been providing medication-assisted treatment for Opioid Use Disorder since 2003, initially in an office setting using buprenorphine and subsequently with methadone in Opioid Treatment Programs.

He established a state-wide buprenorphine treatment program for VA Montana with an extensive focus on telemedicine. He is board-certified in Addiction Medicine through the American Board of Preventative Medicine. He is the Immediate Past President of the Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Sherrick received his MS and BS in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his MD from George Washington University Medical Center.