If someone told you medication-assisted treatment 'isn't real recovery' – they're wrong
I want to address a harmful misconception directly: MAT is not 'replacing one drug with another.' Medications like buprenorphine or naltrexone are prescribed at therapeutic doses to stabilise brain chemistry and reduce cravings. They normalise function rather than produce a high.
The evidence is clear – MAT reduces overdose mortality, improves treatment retention, and supports sustained recovery. Recovery is about improving your quality of life and reducing harm. The pathway you take to get there is yours to choose.
If you have questions about specific medications, mechanisms, or what to expect, I'm happy to discuss.
Comments (11)
i've been on suboxone for two years and the amount of people who've told me i'm 'just replacing one drug with another' is unreal. my life is completely different now. i have a job, i actually show up for my kid. but apparently that doesn't count to some people.
Jake, your experience is unfortunately very common, and it speaks to a deep misunderstanding of how medication-assisted treatment works. Buprenorphine stabilizes opioid receptors without producing the euphoria or destructive behavioral patterns associated with misuse. The fact that you are maintaining employment and a relationship with your child is precisely what recovery looks like. Those outcomes are what matter, not whether someone else approves of the method.
Thank you for posting this, Dr. Hassan. I've been curious about naltrexone for alcohol cravings but I kept hearing mixed things from people in meetings. It's hard to know what to trust when the people around you are dismissive of medication.
Rosa, naltrexone has a robust evidence base for reducing alcohol cravings and is approved by the FDA for alcohol use disorder. It works by blocking the opioid receptors that are involved in the rewarding effects of alcohol, which over time can diminish the desire to drink. I would strongly encourage you to discuss it with a prescriber who is familiar with its use. Peer opinions are valuable, but treatment decisions should ultimately be guided by clinical evidence.
That's really helpful, thank you. I think I'm going to bring it up at my next appointment. Feels good to have some actual information instead of just opinions.
say it louder for the people in the back. MAT saves lives. full stop.
honestly this post should be pinned. so many people out there suffering because they think they have to choose between 'real recovery' and medication that actually works.
hard agree. might actually pin it. good call jake.
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