Opioid use disorder
Buprenorphine / Suboxone
A partial opioid agonist that stops withdrawal and blocks most cravings without the high. Our medical staff may prescribe it after an induction visit, with dose adjustment over the first weeks.
Medication-assisted treatment · Arlington, VA
Medication-Assisted Treatment in Arlington, Virginia
Suboxone, Sublocade, Vivitrol, naltrexone, acamprosate, and Antabuse — paired with real therapy, psychiatric care, and monitoring. Medication removes withdrawal and craving so the rest of treatment has a chance to work.
- Same-week induction
- Physician-managed
- Most insurance accepted
What MAT is
Medication plus treatment — not instead of it
Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medication for opioid or alcohol use disorder with therapy, psychiatric care, and monitoring. It has the strongest evidence of any approach for keeping people in treatment and reducing overdose death.
The point isn't to sedate anyone. At the right dose, withdrawal stops, cravings quiet down, and the mental space that used to go to the next dose goes back to work, family, and the actual clinical work of recovery.
Medications we use
Options for opioid and alcohol use disorder
Opioid use disorder
Sublocade (extended-release buprenorphine)
A monthly injection for people already stable on buprenorphine who want to stop thinking about a daily dose. Our medical staff may prescribe it once you're tolerating oral treatment.
Opioid & alcohol use disorder
Naltrexone (oral)
A pure opioid blocker that also reduces alcohol reward. Requires a period of abstinence before starting, so timing is planned carefully with your clinician.
Opioid & alcohol use disorder
Vivitrol (extended-release naltrexone)
A monthly naltrexone injection with no daily pill and no withdrawal on stopping. Often chosen by people who want a non-opioid option or who face monitoring requirements.
Alcohol use disorder
Acamprosate
Helps restore the chemical balance disrupted by long-term drinking, reducing the low-grade agitation and craving that build in early abstinence.
Alcohol use disorder
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Creates a strong physical reaction to alcohol, which removes the decision from the moment. Useful for people who want an external guardrail while other work happens.
Which medication is right depends on your history, other medications, and your goals. Our medical staff may prescribe any of the above after a full assessment.
How it works
From first call to long-term maintenance
Step 1
Assessment
A confidential evaluation of your use history, medical status, and mental health — usually same-week — to determine whether MAT is appropriate and which medication fits.
Step 2
Induction
Your first dose is timed and monitored so it doesn't trigger precipitated withdrawal, with clear instructions on what to expect in the first 72 hours.
Step 3
Stabilization
Dose adjustments over the following weeks until cravings and withdrawal are gone and you're clear-headed, not sedated.
Step 4
Maintenance & step-down
Ongoing medication with therapy and monitoring at whatever level of care fits — PHP, IOP, or weekly outpatient — for as long as it's clinically useful.
Around the medication
What MAT is paired with here
Individual therapy
Weekly work on the patterns underneath the use — not just the substance. Medication quiets the noise so therapy can actually land.
Group & relapse prevention
Structured groups covering trigger mapping, craving protocols, and the specific hours and situations that carry risk.
Psychiatric care
Board-certified psychiatric evaluation and medication management for depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD alongside MAT.
Monitoring & drug screening
Routine screening used clinically, plus documentation when you need it for court, an employer, or a licensing board.
Family involvement
Education for the people around you about how MAT works — which is often what turns skepticism at home into support.
Long-term planning
How long you stay on medication is a clinical decision made with you, reviewed regularly, and never rushed by a program deadline.
Straight answers
What MAT is — and what it isn't
- MAT is not "trading one addiction for another." At a therapeutic dose, buprenorphine and naltrexone do not produce a high; they remove withdrawal and craving so the rest of treatment can work.
- Medication alone is not the plan. MAT here is always paired with therapy, monitoring, and psychiatric care.
- There is no fixed expiration date. Some people taper after months, others stay on medication for years — both are legitimate outcomes.
- Being on MAT does not mean you failed at recovery. It means you're using a treatment with the strongest evidence base for reducing overdose death.
Where MAT fits
Conditions we treat with medication support
Levels of care
MAT at every level of care
- 016 hrs/day · 5 days/week
Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
MAT started or adjusted with daily medical oversight while full-day programming stabilizes everything around it.
- 023 hrs/day · 3–5 days/week
Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Medication management folded into your group and individual schedule, with day and evening tracks.
- 031–2 sessions/week
Outpatient treatment
Long-term MAT maintenance with weekly therapy and periodic prescriber visits once you're stable.
Maryland & DC commuters
In-person MAT, accessible from Maryland and DC
Our Arlington center is a short drive from Bethesda, Silver Spring, and much of Montgomery and Prince George's County, and we regularly see patients commuting in from Washington, DC. In-person MAT is open to Virginia, Maryland, and DC residents; telehealth sessions are available to Virginia residents only.
Common questions
MAT questions, answered
What is medication-assisted treatment (MAT)?
MAT is the use of FDA-approved medication — such as buprenorphine (Suboxone), naltrexone (Vivitrol), acamprosate, or disulfiram — combined with therapy and counseling to treat opioid or alcohol use disorder. It is the most evidence-supported approach for reducing relapse and overdose risk.
Do you prescribe Suboxone in Arlington?
Yes. Our medical staff may prescribe buprenorphine/Suboxone after an assessment and supervised induction. We also offer Sublocade, Vivitrol, oral naltrexone, acamprosate, and Antabuse depending on what fits your history and goals.
How fast can I start MAT?
In most cases we can complete an assessment and begin induction within the same week, and often within a day or two. If you are in active withdrawal, call us — we prioritize those calls.
Is MAT just replacing one drug with another?
No. At a therapeutic dose, buprenorphine stops withdrawal and craving without producing intoxication, and naltrexone is not an opioid at all. The goal is a stable brain state that makes therapy, work, and relationships possible again.
How long will I be on medication?
There is no standard length. Some people taper off after several months; many do better staying on medication for a year or more. We review it with you regularly and never force a taper on a program schedule.
Do I have to be in a program to get MAT?
MAT is offered at every level of care we provide — PHP, IOP, and weekly outpatient. Medication is always paired with some form of therapy and monitoring, but the intensity is matched to what you actually need.
Is MAT covered by insurance?
Most commercial plans cover MAT medication and the visits around it. Our admissions team verifies your benefits and tells you your expected cost, including whether your plan prefers a specific formulation.
In-person care at 5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA for VA, MD, and DC residents. Telehealth for Virginia residents only.
Get help today
Talk to someone who's done this before
Whether you're calling for yourself or for someone you love, the first conversation is free and completely confidential.
- Admissions — 24/7(571) 586-2883
- Location5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA
Insurance accepted
Insurance coverage for MAT
Medication-assisted treatment — including Suboxone, Sublocade, Vivitrol, and naltrexone — is covered by most commercial plans. We work with Anthem, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Sentara Health Plans, UMR, and Johns Hopkins Health Plans, and confirm medication coverage before your induction visit.
Don't see your plan? Call us — we also work with out-of-network benefits and self-pay.