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What is Medication Assisted Treatment
At Hope Valley, we use Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid addictions. MAT combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders on a whole-patient basis for veterans and active-duty service members.
Our clinically driven MAT programs are tailored to individual needs. MAT helps sustain recovery, reduce cravings, block euphoric effects, and lower opioid overdose risks, according to research.
MAT primarily treats opioid use disorder (OUD) like heroin and prescription painkillers with buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone, and naltrexone (Vivitrol). It also supports alcohol use disorder (AUD) with acamprosate (Campral), naltrexone, and disulfiram (Antabuse), plus nicotine addiction. The medications normalize brain chemistry and body functions without harmful effects.
Benefits of MAT
Why Use Medication Assisted Treatment
In 2020, an estimated 2 million Americans had an opioid use disorder (OUD), including misuse of prescription pain medications containing opiates and heroin. By 2024, provisional CDC data shows opioid-involved overdose deaths dropped significantly to 54,045 (from 79,358 in 2023), a 32% decline, though rates remain above pre-pandemic levels at 16.0 per 100,000.
Among veterans, OUD prevalence peaked at 1.16% in 2017 within the VA system but declined to 0.97% by 2022, reflecting targeted interventions amid higher overdose risks (veterans are twice as likely to die from opioids as civilians). The 2025 SAMHSA NSDUH reports ongoing challenges, with only 19% of those with past-year OUD receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD/MAT)
Proven MAT Benefits
- Improve patient survival and reduce overdose deaths
- Increase treatment retention and engagement
- Decrease illicit opioid use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders
- Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
- Improve birth outcomes among pregnant women with substance use disorders
MAT equips individuals with tools for a self-directed life, making it a cornerstone for veteran recovery at Hope Valley.
Evidence-Based Treatment
What Medications Are Used For MAT
The FDA has approved several medications for opioid use disorders, relieving withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings without just substituting one drug for another. These evidence-based options are safe for months, years, or a lifetime.
Opioid Dependency Medications:
Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade), methadone, and naltrexone (Vivitrol) treat addiction to short-acting opioids like heroin, morphine, and codeine, plus semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone (OxyContin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin). They normalize brain chemistry, block euphoric effects, and reduce cravings.
Opioid Overdose Prevention Medication:
Naloxone (Narcan) reverses opioid overdose effects, restoring breathing within minutes. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists it as essential for healthcare systems.
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Begin your journey to a life of sobriety.
FAQs
Hope Valley Health & Wellness MAT FAQs
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) now prefers “medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)” over MAT, emphasizing that medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are primary, evidence-based treatments - not just supplements.
At Hope Valley, MOUD integrates with behavioral therapy and counseling for comprehensive substance use disorder care tailored to veterans and active-duty service members.
Common MAT Medications
- Methadone reduces cravings and blocks opioid effects.
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade) manages withdrawal and prevents overdose.
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol) blocks euphoria and lowers relapse risk.
Hope Valley integrates these FDA-approved medications into personalized treatment plans addressing opioid dependency for veterans and active-duty service members.
MAT duration varies by individual needs and progress, often lasting several months to years. The FDA recommends at least 12 months for long-term recovery and relapse prevention.
Hope Valley tailors MAT timelines to each veteran or service member, providing ongoing counseling and relapse prevention strategies.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50-100 times more potent than morphine, is medically prescribed as patches/lozenges for cancer pain but dominates illicit markets. Lethal at 2 milligrams (size of several salt grains), it's undetectable when mixed into heroin, cocaine, counterfeit pills, or even marijuana.
In 2024, fentanyl drove ~70% of opioid overdoses (~54,000 deaths), down from 79,000 in 2023 but still devastating communities. Veterans face 2x higher overdose risk, with VA data showing rising fentanyl involvement in OUD cases.
Hope Valley's MAT programs target fentanyl/opioid recovery with buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and naloxone training, plus relapse prevention for service members
Buprenorphine, an FDA-approved partial opioid agonist, manages OUD in MAT by reducing cravings and withdrawal without producing euphoria ("ceiling effect"). Combined with naloxone in Suboxone (films/tablets), it prevents misuse via injection while allowing safe oral/sublingual use.
Available as daily films, weekly/monthly injections (Sublocade), or implants, buprenorphine lowers overdose risk by occupying receptors and blocking full opioids. Hope Valley offers buprenorphine within MAT protocols for veterans' and active duty members' opioid recovery.
Why Choose Us
The Hope Valley Difference
Our unique curriculum incorporates teachings of TJ Woodward’s Conscious Recovery as well as Dr. Stephanie Covington’s trauma-informed and gender-responsive programs.
- Alaska Dept. of Health Licensed, NAATP, & Carf Accredited
- Licensed & Masters Level Therapists
- Separate Men’s & Women’s Programs
- Lifetime Aftercare Support
- Trauma Informed Therapy Including A.R.T.
- Evidence-Based Therapies
- Content review by our Clinical Director
Let Us Lead the Way
Learn More about Our MAT Center in Alaska
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, Hope Valley Health & Wellness offers trauma-informed residential treatment for Veterans and Active Duty service members. Our small, gender-separate homes (max 6 residents) in Wasilla, AK, provide tailored plans for substance use, PTSD, and dual diagnosis, from detox through alumni workforce development. We’re here with TRICARE/TriWest-covered care, Battle Dawgs wellness, and therapies like ART, CBT and etc. , and those, Seeking Safety to support every step.
FAQs
How Can I Pay for Treatment?
Many alcohol and drug rehab centers advertise that “insurance is accepted,” but the fine print often reveals you must bill your insurance yourself. This means they are not preferred providers, leaving you responsible for the full cost upfront - a major risk when facing tens of thousands in expenses during early recovery.
At Hope Valley, we make payment simple and secure for veterans and active-duty military:
Most of the veterans and service members we treat pay little to nothing out of pocket. Here are the three paths in:
VA Direct Referral
Most veterans come to us referred directly by the VA, which authorizes and covers the care. Typically no out-of-pocket cost.
TriWest (VA Community Care)
Veterans can use their VA benefits at Hope Valley through TriWest, the VA Community Care Network in Alaska. Most pay nothing out of pocket.
Active-Duty TRICARE
TRICARE covers active-duty service members, and most pay little to nothing out of pocket. We verify your exact benefits for you.
Whichever path applies, our admissions team confirms your coverage and tells you any out-of-pocket amount before admission, at no charge. If you don't have coverage or prefer to self-pay, call us for a confidential conversation about options and cost.
At Hope Valley, there is no fine print when we say your coverage is accepted. We verify benefits for veterans and active-duty military, telling you exactly what out-of-pocket expenses to expect during pre-admission.
We never charge more than your copay or deductible for covered services and maximize authorizations from TriWest or TRICARE.
Billing your insurance is handled entirely by us, so you can focus on recovery. In most cases TriWest/Tricare cover up to 100% of costs with zero out-of-pocket. Call Us Now for a confidential verification and begin your journey today.
If you do not have insurance or prefer self-pay, please reach out for a confidential call to discuss treatment options and costs for veterans and active-duty military at Hope Valley.
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