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Medication and therapy, working together
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), also called Medications for Addiction Treatment, combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders. At North Jersey Recovery Center in Fair Lawn, MAT is delivered by our physician-led medical team and integrated directly into Partial Care, Intensive Outpatient, Evening IOP, and Outpatient treatment, so your medication, your therapy, and your care for any co-occurring mental health condition are all managed by one coordinated team.
By reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, MAT helps restore stability and supports recovery, providing the cognitive and emotional bandwidth necessary to engage more effectively in therapy and meaningful lifestyle change. It is recognized by SAMHSA, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse as an evidence-based standard of care for opioid use disorder.
Who MAT is designed for
MAT may be a good fit if you:
- Are working to stop using heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, or other opioids
- Are working to stop or reduce alcohol use and want medication support for cravings
- Have tried treatment before and want an additional layer of support this time
- Are stepping down from detox or an inpatient program and want to continue medication with therapy
- Are living with a co-occurring condition such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder and want psychiatric care coordinated with your MAT
Every MAT client receives a medical and psychiatric evaluation before starting medication. Your prescriber reviews your history, current medications, and goals with you and explains the options so the decision is a shared one. If you need medically supervised detox first, we coordinate it with accredited partners and hold your place.
Medications we prescribe
Our medical team selects medication based on your substance use history, your health, and your preferences. These are the medications we prescribe and manage at our Fair Lawn center:
For opioid use disorder
- Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone, Zubsolv) — a daily sublingual film or tablet that reduces cravings and withdrawal while blocking the effects of other opioids
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol) — a monthly extended-release injection that blocks the effects of opioids and supports abstinence, with no daily dosing. Your NJRC prescriber writes the prescription and coordinates your monthly injection with one of our partner medical providers nearby, and we keep the schedule on track with you
- Oral naltrexone — a daily tablet option
For alcohol use disorder
- Naltrexone (oral or Vivitrol injection) — reduces cravings and the rewarding effects of alcohol
- Acamprosate (Campral) — supports abstinence by easing post-acute withdrawal symptoms
- Disulfiram (Antabuse) — creates a strong deterrent to drinking
For overdose safety
- Naloxone (Narcan) kits — provided to every client on an opioid medication, with training for you and your family
Learn more about our two most common options on our Suboxone & Vivitrol program page.
Your MAT medical team
MAT at North Jersey Recovery Center is led by Suzanne Salamanca, PhD, APN, PMHNP-BC, Director of Medical Services, with prescribing and medication management provided by our psychiatric prescribers and nursing support on program days. Because the same team manages psychiatric medications for co-occurring conditions, your entire medication picture is reviewed together at every visit.
How MAT fits into your treatment
Assessment and induction
In most cases you meet with a prescriber for a medical evaluation on the day you intake. When buprenorphine is the right choice, your prescription is sent electronically to a local pharmacy the same day, and your prescriber walks you through timing for doses. Our goal is always that nobody leaves their first day without a plan and a prescription.
Ongoing medication management
Follow-up visits track your response, adjust dosing, and monitor for side effects. Visits are scheduled alongside your group and individual therapy so you are already on site, and they’re available during the day or in the evening, so MAT works with your schedule rather than against it.
Therapy at every step
MAT clients participate in the same evidence-based program as every client: group therapy, individual therapy, CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, family therapy, and relapse prevention. Medication addresses the physical side of recovery; therapy addresses the rest.
Monitoring and safety
Routine drug screening and prescription monitoring are part of responsible MAT and are handled respectfully as a clinical tool, never a punishment.
Long-term planning
Some clients stay on medication for months; others for years. Your prescriber works with you on a plan you are comfortable with. When you finish your treatment program, you don’t have to find a new doctor: our medication management program lets you keep seeing the same prescribers for your MAT — and for any psychiatric medication — as a standalone service for as long as it’s clinically appropriate, with a smooth handoff to a community prescriber whenever you and your prescriber decide it’s time.
What a week looks like
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Prescriber visits | Set by your prescriber — more often at the start, then spaced out as you stabilize; daytime or evening |
| Vivitrol injections | Once every 4 weeks, at a partner medical provider we coordinate for you |
| Buprenorphine | Daily at home; prescriptions sent electronically to your local pharmacy |
| Therapy | Per your level of care: Partial Care, IOP, Evening IOP, or Outpatient |
| Drug screening | Regular, as a clinical tool |
| Nursing support | Available on program days |
Why choose North Jersey Recovery Center for MAT
- Physician-led, Joint Commission accredited, LegitScript certified, NAATP member
- Licensed by the State of New Jersey (license 2000822)
- MAT integrated with therapy and psychiatric care for co-occurring conditions in one location
- Multiple levels of care so your medication continues seamlessly as you step down, and a medication management program so you can keep the same prescribers after you finish treatment
- Confidential help by phone 24 hours a day
- 22-08 NJ-208 Suite 2, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410, serving all of Bergen County
Frequently asked questions
Is MAT just replacing one drug with another?
No. MAT medications are prescribed and monitored by medical providers, taken at stable doses, and combined with therapy. They relieve cravings and withdrawal so you can function, work, and engage in treatment.
How quickly can I start MAT?
Your assessment happens the same day you call, and once our clinical and medical team approves your plan you can start as soon as the next day; in most cases you see a prescriber on your first day and leave with a prescription already sent to your pharmacy. Call (877) 632-5541 and our admissions team will schedule your evaluation.
Do I have to be in a treatment program to receive MAT?
During treatment, MAT at North Jersey Recovery Center is delivered together with counseling at your level of care, because combining medication with therapy is how MAT works best. When you complete your program, you can continue medication on its own through our medication management program, seeing the same prescribers you already know.
Which is better, Suboxone or Vivitrol?
Both are effective. Suboxone is taken daily and can begin soon after your last opioid use. Vivitrol is a monthly injection that begins after a short opioid-free period. Your prescriber will help you choose based on your history and preferences.
Can MAT be combined with medication for depression or anxiety?
Yes. Because our medical team manages both, your MAT and psychiatric medications are reviewed together at each visit.
Does insurance cover MAT?
Most commercial plans include benefits for MAT medications and the associated medical visits. We verify your specific coverage at no cost before you begin. Visit our insurance page or call (877) 632-5541.
Talk with our medical team
Call (877) 632-5541 to ask about Medication-Assisted Treatment in Fair Lawn, or verify your insurance online. Confidential help is available 24 hours a day.
North Jersey Recovery Center · 22-08 NJ-208 Suite 2, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
