NAATP Provides Industry Position on Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Addiction
Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) October 27, 2015 -- In response to recent press coverage regarding the use of Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) in the care and treatment of addiction / substance abuse disorder (SUD), the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) is pleased to provide this statement describing its position on MAT in the treatment of SUD. NAATP, founded in 1978, is a professional membership and advocacy organization dedicated to guiding and serving addiction treatment providers and promoting sound policy and best practices in the treatment of addiction. NAATP members include approximately 300 addiction treatment programs comprising approximately 600 addiction treatment centers.
NAATP supports the use of evidence based and time tested methods for the treatment of SUD. NAATP believes that addiction is a chronic disease and supports the use of individualized, multifaceted, multiphasic, interdisciplinary service provided along a continuum of care. This care includes bio-psycho-social care and MAT used as part of a combined holistic treatment approach. NAATP members have long endorsed this model including, contrary to recent news reports, the use of MAT. NAATP believes that MAT, used in conjunction with bio-psycho-social care, including 12-step care and peer driven support, provide patients with the best chances for recovery.
NAATP Executive Director Marvin Ventrell said, “NAATP is pleased with the recent focus and attention on addiction treatment. We have been waiting for this momentum for a long time. It is essential, now, that we get it right, that we integrate rather than isolate systems of care, including MAT and bio-psycho-social care. Our industry embraces this approach. A good example of that is NAATP member Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s publication, Integrating the Twelve Steps with Medically-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. This is all part of a Recovery Oriented System of Care and that is the kind of thinking and approach we need now.”
Marvin Ventrell, National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers - NAATP, http://www.naatp.org, +1 (720) 456-5808, [email protected]
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