Harm Reduction Coalition Detox Vs Mat

The food and drug administration fda has approved several different medications to treat alcohol and opioid use disorders mat medications relieve the withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings that cause chemical imbalances in the body.

Harm reduction coalition detox vs mat.

Medications used in mat are approved by the food and drug administration fda and mat programs are clinically driven and tailored to meet each patient s needs. In reality this method reinforces addiction disease mythology and creates a new long term dependency that is unnecessary and potentially more harmful. The work of the harm reduction movement is a matter of life and death. Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use.

It s a valid concern because depending on the length and level of substance use withdrawal symptoms can be painful and cause medical complications. Medications used for mat are evidence based treatment options and do not just substitute one drug for another. It s called harm reduction. Harm reduction program staff should include methadone patients and otp staff include members of the harm reduction community said daniel raymond deputy director of planning and policy for the harm reduction.

Led by the urban survivors union usu a national drug users union the. Nearly 70 000 people died from drug overdose last year. Harm reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in and respect for the rights of people who use drugs 1. Learn more about our overdose prevention efforts.

H arm reduction organizations providers experts and advocates from across the us are calling on government agencies to eliminate the notoriously burdensome restrictions imposed on medication assisted treatment mat for opioid use disorder a move they say would mitigate the dual crises of overdose and coronavirus. National harm reduction coalition ensures more communities have access to these tools. The harm reduction coalition however does want to collaborate with otps. 1 2 strategies might include providing a safe environment for heroin use that minimizes the risk of overdose or contraction of hiv.

An alternative approach to the treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders is gaining momentum around the country. What is harm reduction. Another roadblock is dealing with cravings once sober which can last a long time due to the changes in the brain that have occurred. 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.

Harm reduction programs also serve methadone patients. Although the term has fallen out of favor and treatment providers often focus on medication assisted treatment we think the history of harm reduction including its new applications are an.