Which substances are primarily treated with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is primarily employed to address opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. MAT combines medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to provide a holistic approach to treatment. The use of MAT for opioid use disorder often involves medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, which can help to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, enhancing the chances of successful recovery.

For alcohol use disorder, medications such as disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone can support individuals in reducing alcohol consumption and preventing relapse by altering the brain's responses to alcohol. The inclusion of tobacco use disorder may also be considered under MAT because products containing nicotine or medications such as varenicline and bupropion aid in smoking cessation by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Other substances like cocaine and methamphetamine do not currently have approved MAT options, which is why those conditions are not primarily treated with this approach. Additionally, focusing solely on prescription medication misuse does not encapsulate the broader scope of MAT that is aimed at more widely recognized substance use disorders. Therefore, the answer that includes opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and even tobacco use disorder accurately reflects the primary focus of MAT practices.