Addiction Treatment Medication: What It Is and How It Works
Willpower alone is rarely enough to overcome addiction, and science backs that up.
Addiction changes brain chemistry, and addiction medication helps restore it. The right medication can quiet cravings, ease withdrawal, and give you the stability to do the deeper work of recovery.
At Outpatient Detox Near Me, our board-certified specialists prescribe and manage these medications as part of outpatient treatment across Tennessee.
Call (866) 655-2113 to learn about medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
What Are Medications for Addiction Treatment?
Medication for drug addiction refers to FDA-approved prescriptions that treat substance use disorders directly. These medications work in different ways depending on the substance involved. Some reduce cravings, some ease withdrawal symptoms, and some block the effects of a substance entirely.
This approach is called medication-assisted treatment, or MAT. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), MAT combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapy, and this combination consistently outperforms either approach alone. Our MAT program follows that model, pairing medication management with ongoing clinical support.
Does Medication Just Replace One Addiction With Another?
This is the most common concern we hear, and the answer is no. Addiction involves compulsive use despite harm, and it is a pattern that takes over your life. A properly prescribed medication does the opposite by stabilizing brain chemistry so you can function, work, and rebuild.
Physical dependence on a medication is a normal, manageable medical reality, and it is different from addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is clear on this point: medications for opioid use disorder are treatment, and people using them are in recovery.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Several FDA-approved medications treat opioid addiction, and each works differently.
- Buprenorphine: A partial opioid agonist that relieves cravings and withdrawal without producing the high of full opioids, with a ceiling effect that lowers overdose risk. It is commonly prescribed as Suboxone, which combines buprenorphine with naloxone.
- Methadone: A long-acting full agonist with decades of research behind it. Methadone is dispensed only through federally certified opioid treatment programs, and our team can help you understand whether it fits your situation.
- Naltrexone and Vivitrol: Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors entirely, so opioids produce no effect. Vivitrol is the monthly injectable form, which removes the need for a daily pill.
- Lofexidine: A non-opioid medication that eases the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal. It is used during detox rather than as long-term maintenance.
Our Detox Center Locations
At Outpatient Detox Near Me, we serve clients in Tennessee with local outpatient detox services that prioritize safety, compassion, and dignity. Our detox centers provide a quiet, supportive setting where you can begin your recovery surrounded by a team that genuinely cares.
Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder
Three FDA-approved medications support recovery from alcohol addiction.
- Naltrexone: Reduces alcohol cravings and blunts the rewarding effects of drinking, available as a daily pill or the monthly Vivitrol injection
- Acamprosate: Helps rebalance brain chemistry disrupted by long-term drinking, supporting people who have stopped and want to maintain abstinence
- Disulfiram: Creates an unpleasant physical reaction if alcohol is consumed, which works as a deterrent for people committed to total abstinence
The right choice depends on your drinking history, your health, and your goals. Our medical team walks through the options during your assessment, and our alcohol detox program can start medication support from day one.
Medications Used During Detox
Detox has its own set of medications, separate from long-term maintenance. During supervised withdrawal, our providers may use comfort medications for nausea, anxiety, sleep, and muscle aches. Lofexidine and similar medications calm the nervous system during opioid withdrawal.
For alcohol withdrawal, medically managed tapering protocols keep the process safe and reduce the risk of serious complications. Every detox plan is built around your substance, your history, and your health, and you can review what withdrawal looks like for specific substances in our withdrawal timeline guides.
Addiction Medications at a Glance
Here is a quick reference for how the major medications compare:
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone): For opioid use disorder, taken daily, reduces cravings and withdrawal, prescribed in outpatient settings
- Methadone: For opioid use disorder, taken daily, strong craving control, dispensed through specialized clinics
- Naltrexone (Pill): For opioid or alcohol use disorder, taken daily, blocks effects and reduces cravings, requires completed detox first
- Vivitrol (Injection): For opioid or alcohol use disorder, administered monthly, removes daily medication decisions, requires completed detox first
- Acamprosate: For alcohol use disorder, taken daily, supports long-term abstinence after drinking stops
- Disulfiram: For alcohol use disorder, taken daily, works as a deterrent rather than a craving reducer
- Lofexidine: For opioid withdrawal, short-term use during detox, eases physical symptoms
How Medication Fits Into Outpatient Treatment in Memphis
Medication works best inside a complete treatment plan. At our clinic near Memphis, that plan starts with a medical assessment from our board-certified team. From there, we build an outpatient detox and medication plan you follow while living at home.
You keep your job, your family routine, and your responsibilities while receiving medical supervision and counseling. Regular check-ins let our providers adjust your medication as your body stabilizes. This model serves clients across the Memphis area, including Bartlett, and throughout Tennessee.
Cost, Insurance, and Coverage
Most insurance plans cover addiction medication and the outpatient care around it. Federal parity law requires most plans to cover substance use treatment comparably to medical care, and that includes MAT.
Your exact cost depends on your plan, your deductible, and the medication prescribed. Our admissions team verifies your insurance at no cost and explains your coverage in plain language before treatment begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you stay on addiction medication?
There is no single timeline, and that is by design. Some people use medication for months while others benefit for years, and research supports longer durations for opioid medications in particular. Your provider reviews your progress regularly, and the decision to taper is always made together.
Can you get addiction medication without going to rehab?
Yes. Outpatient MAT programs like ours prescribe addiction medication without requiring residential treatment. You attend appointments, receive counseling, and take your medication while living at home. This makes treatment realistic for people who work or care for family.
What's the difference between naltrexone and naloxone?
Naltrexone is a daily or monthly medication that blocks cravings and the effects of opioids and alcohol over time. Naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan, is an emergency medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. One supports long-term recovery, and the other saves lives in a crisis.
Is Suboxone covered by insurance in Tennessee?
Most insurance plans in Tennessee cover Suboxone, including many commercial plans and TennCare. Coverage details like copays and prior authorization vary by plan. Our team confirms your specific benefits during verification so you know your costs upfront.
Can you drive or work while taking addiction medication?
Most people on a stable, properly managed dose work, drive, and live normally. The adjustment period during your first days on a new medication may cause drowsiness, so your provider will guide you through that window. Stability is the entire goal of these medications.
What happens if you stop taking it?
Stopping abruptly is risky, especially with opioid medications, because cravings return and overdose risk rises sharply once tolerance drops. If you want to stop, tell your provider rather than quitting on your own. A gradual, supervised taper paired with continued counseling protects everything you have built.
Can you get addiction medication through telehealth?
Telehealth options for addiction medication have expanded significantly, and many appointments can now happen virtually. Rules vary by medication, and some situations call for in-person visits. Call us at (866) 655-2113 and we will explain what is possible for your situation.
Do you have to be fully detoxed before starting?
It depends on the medication. Buprenorphine actually begins during early withdrawal, once your provider confirms the right timing. Naltrexone and Vivitrol require your system to be fully free of opioids first, typically 7 to 10 days, which your medical team verifies before starting. Our providers manage that timing for you so nothing is left to guesswork.
Dr. Jawaun Lewis
Medical Review By
Dr. Lewis has over 20 years of experience in the medical field, specializing in mental and behavioral health as well as substance abuse treatment. He earned his medical degree from the Oklahoma State University for Health Sciences in Tulsa. Dr. Lewis entered the field of psychiatry in 2002.
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Find the Right Addiction Medication for Your Recovery
The right medication can change what recovery feels like from the very first week. Call Outpatient Detox Near Me at (866) 655-2113 or verify your insurance online, and our medical team will help you find the option that fits your life.