Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Clinic
Find long-term recovery from substance use with Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MAT is a proven, science-based treatment that helps reduce cravings and provides relief from withdrawal symptoms. In MAT, individuals can get the most out of behavioral health therapy while receiving medications for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment. By using prescribed medications and therapies, many people can sustain their recovery from addiction and find consistent, positive well-being.
The MAT clinic provides the following services:
- Medication: You will meet with the MAT prescriber and pharmacist to discuss medication options
- Regular Addiction Psychiatry Services with the MAT prescriber
- Regular Therapy Sessions: Both individual and group therapy are offered
- Peer facilitated MAT groups and ongoing peer specialist support offered
Recovery from opioid addiction is possible
If you or a loved one are suffering from an opioid addiction, know that long-term recovery is possible with the use of Medication Assisted Treatment.
At WellPower, our focus is helping people find recovery from mental and behavioral health challenges by focusing on their strengths and well-being. When you receive treatment with WellPower's MAT clinic, our person-first model puts you in control of your recovery journey.
What does that mean for you?
There is no minimum or maximum amount of time required for you to use MAT services - whether it takes weeks, months or years for you to find your recovery from substance use, we're here to support you in that journey. Our harm-reduction philosophy and practice mean that we take a person-centered approach to your recovery process; there is no one-size-fits-all way to find relief from Opioid Use Disorder, so you can choose which elements of our program you participate in that fit your needs best.
Our team is here to help.
Getting Started
To begin MAT services, you must already be in services with WellPower. To access WellPower services, please call (303) 504-7900 to speak with our Access Center. In order to qualify for the MAT clinic, the following criteria must be met:
- The person who will receive services is currently experiencing Opioid Use Disorder
- The person is interested in receiving therapeutic support to manage their symptoms
- The person who will receive services currently has Medicaid insurance
Already Enrolled in WellPower Services?
For scheduling directly with the MAT clinic, please call (303) 504-7700.
Not quite ready to begin MAT services and interested in what else WellPower has to offer? Check out our Mental Health Services webpage to learn more.
What happens when I call the Access Center?
If you're not already enrolled in services with WellPower, you'll need to contact the Access Center at (303) 504-7900 and complete the intake process before you can begin working with the MAT clinic.
You'll speak with a member of the Access team and complete a phone screening, which includes the reason for coming to WellPower for services, learning more about your demographics, talking about insurance and a few other questions. This process usually takes between 15 to 20 minutes.
Next, you'll be scheduled for an intake appointment. The timing for this can vary.
Once you've completed your intake, you'll be assigned a primary treatment team, such as a therapist or case manager. A member of your treatment team can refer o you to the MAT clinic, as can your intake clinician.
After your clinical referral and insurance are approved, a peer specialist from the MAT clinic will reach out to you to get you started.
How does the MAT program work?
WellPower's MAT clinic is a little different than many addiction treatment options. We use a harm-reduction approach, which means that participants in the MAT program can choose how much or how little they participate in the medications and therapies offered. Some people choose to engage in everything we offer, while others choose to only meet with a psychiatrist, and everything in between.
By giving the people we serve freedom to choose their own level of participation, we help people feel more comfortable receiving treatment at their pace along their recovery journey.
"It’s good to be noticed. Especially since I just started the MAT clinic this time. People are reaching out to me to make sure that I’m OK, and that’s one thing that I like about it - I’m not alone. I’m not alone in this, in my recovery. I know the MAT clinic people have my back."
- MAT Clinic Participant
What do the medications do?
There are multiple medications available to treat opioid use disorder. They may be used to reduce:
- Symptoms of withdrawal
- Cravings to use opioids
- Pleasurable effects of using opioids
Medications offered by WellPower’s MAT clinic include:
- Buprenorphine Extended Release (Sublocade) - monthly injection
- Buprenorphine (Subutex) - dissolving tablets
- Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone/Zubsolv) - dissolving films and tablets
- Naltrexone – taken by mouth
- Naltrexone Extended Release (Vivitrol) - monthly injection
Buprenorphine can be used to reduce the effects of withdrawal as opioids wear off. Both buprenorphine and naltrexone can be used to help maintain sobriety from opioids.
These medications may be combined with other treatments like individual therapy, psychiatry, group therapy, and peer support. People can and do recover from opioid use long-term and these medications are a tool that have helped many of them do so.
Opioids and Overdose Prevention
Opioids are a type of drug that come from the opium poppy or are synthetically made by a drug company. Opioids are depressants, which means they slow down your central nervous system, including your breathing.
Examples of Opioids include: Fentanyl, Morphine, OxyContin, Heroin, Oxycodone and Percocet.
Opioid overdoses happen when there are too many opioids or a combination of opioids and other depressants (downers) in your body causing the brain to shut down breathing. Some ways to avoid overdose include:
- Be aware of your tolerance
- What else is in your drugs? Know who you’re buying from and know what’s in it
- Check for presence of Fentanyl in your supply by using Fentanyl Test Strips. Fentanyl test kits are available with WellPower’s pharmacies.
- Know your own high – be aware of how different drugs affect you
- Be aware of the risk of mixing drugs
- Try not to use alone
- Have Narcan/Naloxone available in case of emergencies
Additional resources
Want to learn more about harm reduction, overdose prevention and other resources in Denver? Check out the list below: