Medication-Assisted Treatment in Charleston, SC
Evidence-based MAT program accepting new patients — often scheduled within a week of your request.
What Is MAT?
Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to provide a comprehensive approach to substance use disorder treatment. For opioid use disorder, the three FDA-approved medications are buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade), naltrexone (Vivitrol), and methadone (not offered in our outpatient setting). For alcohol use disorder, approved medications include naltrexone, Vivitrol, and acamprosate. At Hope Addiction Medicine in West Ashley, we prescribe all of these medications (except methadone, which requires a federally licensed opioid treatment program) and coordinate with counselors and recovery support services.
Why MAT Works
The evidence supporting MAT is overwhelming. Research shows MAT reduces opioid overdose deaths by over 50%, improves treatment retention (patients stay in treatment longer and have better outcomes), decreases illicit drug use and criminal activity, improves employment and social functioning, and reduces the transmission of infectious diseases associated with injection drug use. MAT is not replacing one drug with another — it is the medical standard of care for opioid use disorder, endorsed by the World Health Organization, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and SAMHSA.
Our Program
We offer all three buprenorphine formulations (sublingual film, sublingual tablet, and Sublocade monthly injection), naltrexone (oral and Vivitrol monthly injection), and acamprosate. Your provider will recommend the medication that best fits your condition, treatment history, and goals. We coordinate with your counselor, therapist, probation officer, or referring agency. Compliance reporting is handled promptly. We are listed on the SAMHSA treatment locator. Patients from across the greater Charleston Lowcountry choose our West Ashley office for expert, confidential MAT.
How to Get Started
Call (843) 737-0312. We answer questions, verify your insurance, and schedule your first appointment — often within a week of your call. Whether you are self-referred, family-referred, or court-referred, the process is the same: a comprehensive evaluation followed by same-day or next-day medication initiation when clinically appropriate.
Common Symptoms
Treatment Options
Frequently Asked Questions
For opioid use disorder: buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade) and naltrexone (Vivitrol). For alcohol use disorder: naltrexone, Vivitrol, and acamprosate. Your provider will recommend the best option for your situation.
No. MAT medications are FDA-approved, medically supervised, and evidence-based. They reduce cravings and withdrawal without producing euphoria. This is medical treatment for a medical condition — the same principle as using insulin for diabetes.
Treatment duration is individualized. Many patients benefit from at least one year of medication, and some continue longer. Research consistently shows that longer treatment is associated with better outcomes.
Only with your written consent. Federal regulations (42 CFR Part 2) protect substance use treatment records. We will provide compliance documentation to your court or probation officer if you authorize it.