Medication-Assisted Treatment in San Diego

Evidence-based medication, integrated into the same physician-led program is San Diego, not a separate referral or a pharmacy you have to manage on your own.

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Reviewed by:

David Deyhimy, MD — Medical Director

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)?

Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat substance use disorders. For opioid use disorder, MAT can dramatically reduce cravings and overdose risk. For alcohol use disorder, certain medications support sustained recovery. The medications work because they correct the brain chemistry changes that addiction creates, they are not a “softer” or “less serious” form of treatment.

At Broadview Recovery in San Diego, MAT is fully integrated. The same physician who oversees your detox and residential plan is the physician managing your medications. There is no handoff to an outside clinic, no waiting list, no figuring out a separate pharmacy.

Take that first step, we handle the rest.

Who MAT is for

MAT is appropriate for adults with opioid use disorder (including fentanyl), alcohol use disorder, or co-occurring conditions where pharmacology supports recovery.

You might qualify for MAT if:

You’ve been using opioids or fentanyl and worry that cravings or withdrawal will pull you back before treatment has a chance to work
You’ve tried to stop drinking or using before and relapsed, and want medical support to make this time hold
Your alcohol use has reached the point where stopping on your own feels unsafe, or medically supervised withdrawal is recommended
You’re managing a mental health condition alongside substance use, and need a plan that treats both at once rather than one at a time
You’re pregnant or have a complex medical history, and need a physician-led setting equipped to handle higher-acuity care

Our medical team determines whether MAT is the right tool through a clinical evaluation, and it’s always the patient’s decision whether to use it.

How effective is MAT?

MAT is one of the most effective, evidence-based practices for treating opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Decades of research consistently show it reduces overdose deaths, curbs uncontrollable use, and improves treatment retention compared with counseling alone. The evidence is not marginal, it is some of the strongest in all of addiction medicine:

People retained in methadone treatment have roughly one-third the all-cause death rate of those out of treatment (11.3 versus 36.1 deaths per 1,000 person-years) and about one-fifth the overdose death rate (2.6 versus 12.7). (Sordo et al., BMJ, 2017)
Among more than 17,000 people who survived an overdose, those treated with methadone had a 59% lower risk of dying from a future opioid overdose, and those on buprenorphine a 38% lower risk, over the following year. (Larochelle et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, NIH-funded, 2018)
For alcohol use disorder, only about 12 people need to be treated with acamprosate, or with oral naltrexone to prevent heavy drinking, for one additional person to avoid a return to drinking, placing these medications among the most effective first-line options. (Jonas et al., JAMA, 2014)
Federal health agencies classify medications for opioid use disorder as the gold-standard treatment, because they keep people in care longer and reduce illicit opioid use more effectively than behavioral therapy on its own. (SAMHSA / National Institute on Drug Abuse)

At Broadview, this evidence is delivered as a structured MAT program that includes therapy, group counseling, and relapse prevention, with the same physician overseeing your medications from admission through aftercare.

Benefits of MAT

Reduces cravings and blunts withdrawal, so early recovery is less likely to be derailed
Lowers the risk of overdose and overdose death, particularly with opioid use disorder
Improves treatment retention — people are more likely to stay in care and complete their plan
Corrects the brain-chemistry changes addiction creates, supporting a return to work, family, and daily life
Evidence-based and endorsed by the medical and recovery communities as a proven standard of care

Risks of MAT

Can cause side effects such as nausea, headache, constipation, or fatigue, especially when starting
Some medications (buprenorphine, methadone) create their own physical dependence that must be tapered under supervision
Starting certain medications too soon can trigger precipitated withdrawal, which is why timing and physician oversight matter
Medications can interact with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other drugs, requiring careful medical review
Works best alongside counseling and behavioral therapy — it is a tool within treatment, not a standalone cure

Have more questions? Call us.

Medications We Offer

How MAT Works at Broadview

Clinical evaluation

Our medical team evaluates your substance use history, medical conditions, and recovery goals. We discuss whether MAT is right for your situation.

Initiation under supervision

Medications are started during your stay, under direct physician supervision. Side effects, dosing, and tolerance are managed in real time.

Continuation planning

Before discharge, we arrange continuation — either with our outpatient providers, your local primary care physician, or a specialty MAT clinic. Your prescription does not lapse.

Need help deciding? Call now.

What Happens After MAT?

Medication-assisted treatment doesn’t end the day you leave. The weeks after discharge are when recovery is most fragile, and a prescription that lapses or a follow-up that never gets booked is where too many people lose momentum. At Broadview, continuation is arranged before you go home, not left for you to figure out afterward.

Because the same physician oversees your detox, residential stay, and medications, there’s no records request or repeated intake to untangle when it’s time to transition. Before discharge, your care team builds the next step with you and puts it on the calendar: ongoing care with an outpatient provider, a handoff to your local primary care physician, or a referral to a specialty MAT clinic, depending on what fits your life and your medication plan.

The goal is simple. Your prescription doesn’t lapse, and you know exactly where your next appointment is before you walk out the door. That’s what we mean when we say what comes next is already scheduled.

It’s always your decision whether to continue MAT, and for how long. Our role is to make sure the option stays open and the plan is in place.

Differentiator

One physician. One plan. From admission through aftercare

Most programs treat MAT as a separate referral. Ours integrates it directly — same physician, same care team, same medical record.

For Family, Spouces, & Loved Ones

Are you helping make the call for someone else?

Most people who reach us aren’t the person who needs treatment. They’re the spouse, parent, or sibling who’s worried, often calling late at night after a crisis. If that’s you, this section is for you.

“Isn’t MAT just replacing one drug with another?” It’s the first question almost every family asks, and it’s a fair one. The answer is no. FDA-approved MAT medications correct the brain chemistry that addiction changes; they don’t produce the high that drives active use. They’re a medical tool that keeps cravings and withdrawal from pulling your person back before the rest of treatment has a chance to work, and the medical and recovery communities agree MAT saves lives.

Your person won’t be a number here. Broadview is a single 12-bed program in Lemon Grove, not a large facility that moves people through in volume. The clinical team knows every patient by name, and care is led by Dr. David Deyhimy, a physician board-certified in both addiction medicine and internal medicine. That matters most for complex situations, including high-acuity cases and pregnancy, that many programs in San Diego aren’t equipped to handle.

You’re part of the plan from day one. Family involvement isn’t an afterthought scheduled for week three; it starts at admission. And because admissions runs directly, around the clock, you can talk to a real person now rather than wait for a callback.

Whether MAT is the right tool is decided through a clinical evaluation, and it’s always the patient’s decision to use it. But the decision to pick up the phone is yours, and it’s the one that starts everything.

Call (619) 805-5105 to talk through your situation, day or night.

Get help now. Our team can walk you through it.

Common Questions About MAT

Is MAT just replacing one drug with another?

No, MAT is not swapping one addiction for another.

FDA-approved medications for addiction treatment correct the brain chemistry that drug addiction creates rather than producing a high, which is why the medical and recovery communities agree they reduce overdose deaths and save lives. Used inside a broader treatment plan, they are a medical tool, not a substitute substance.

How long do I take MAT?

There is no single right answer; the length of MAT is a clinical decision made between you and your physician.

Some patients use medication for months and others for years, depending on their history and how their personalized treatment plan evolves. Ongoing medication management means your dose and timeline are reviewed regularly rather than set once and forgotten.

Will I have withdrawal when I stop?

Most MAT medications are tapered slowly under physician supervision, which minimizes withdrawal symptoms.

This taper period is planned with your medical team so your body adjusts at a safe pace, and the decision to stop is always made together. Careful withdrawal management is one of the reasons supervised MAT is safer than stopping on your own.

Can I work or drive on MAT?

Yes, once you are stabilized on the correct dose, MAT does not impair your ability to work or drive.

The medications normalize brain chemistry rather than sedate you, so most patients return to their jobs, families, and daily responsibilities. Your physician will confirm you are stable before you resume activities like driving, especially during the initial adjustment.

Will my insurance cover MAT?

Most major commercial PPOs cover MAT, and verification is free and takes minutes.

Coverage varies by plan, so our admissions team checks your specific benefits before anything begins. Broadview is currently out of network, and we will walk you through exactly what that means for your costs.

Do I have to use MAT to get treatment at Broadview?

No, MAT is a tool, not a requirement.

Many of our clients choose abstinence-based addiction recovery, and that path is fully supported alongside our evidence-based therapies and group counseling. Whether MAT is right for you is determined through a clinical evaluation, and the choice is always yours.

What medications are used in MAT?

There are many FDA-approved medications for addiction treatment, including buprenorphine (Suboxone), Sublocade, and naltrexone (Vivitrol).

For opioid treatment, including heroin addiction and fentanyl use, these medications reduce cravings and ease opioid withdrawal, while naltrexone also supports alcohol recovery. Your physician selects the right option based on your substance use history and overall health.

Does MAT help with co-occurring mental health conditions?

Yes, MAT works best when paired with mental health treatment for any co-occurring conditions.

Because drug addiction and mental health are closely linked, our program combines medication with Mental Health Services so both are treated together rather than separately. This integrated approach improves treatment retention and lowers the risk of relapse.

What does starting MAT at Broadview involve?

It begins with a full mental and physical evaluation to determine whether MAT fits your needs.

From there your physician builds a personalized treatment plan with ongoing medication management, and continuation is arranged before discharge so care does not lapse. Whether you step down to an outpatient program or other recovery support groups, the plan is in place before you leave.

Medical Detox

Residential Treatment

Aftercare & Step-Down

Begin The Conversation

Verify benefits or call us 24/7 — we’ll talk through whether MAT is right for your situation

References

Sordo L, et al. “Mortality risk during and after opioid substitution treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.” BMJ, 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28446428/

Larochelle MR, et al. “Medication for Opioid Use Disorder After Nonfatal Opioid Overdose and Association With Mortality.” Annals of Internal Medicine, 2018 — summarized by NIH: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/methadone-buprenorphine-reduce-risk-death-after-opioid-overdose

Jonas DE, et al. “Pharmacotherapy for Adults With Alcohol Use Disorders in Outpatient Settings.” JAMA, 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208590/

SAMHSA, Medications for Substance Use Disorders: https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders