US Medical Term · mental-health
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Tratamiento con medicamentos (TAM)
Also: Tratamiento asistido por medicación (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) |
| Spanish (Español) | Tratamiento con medicamentos (TAM) |
| Chinese (中文) | 藥物輔助治療 |
| Korean (한국어) | 약물 보조 치료 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Điều trị hỗ trợ bằng thuốc |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) |
| Portuguese (Português) | Tratamento assistido por medicamentos (TAM) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การรักษาด้วยยาเสริม |
| Japanese (日本語) | 薬物補助療法 |
What it means
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of FDA-approved medications — combined with counseling and behavioral therapies — to treat substance use disorders, particularly opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. For opioid use disorder, medications such as buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone, and naltrexone reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms and significantly lower the risk of overdose. For alcohol use disorder, medications like naltrexone and acamprosate reduce the urge to drink. MAT is considered a gold-standard, evidence-based treatment and is not simply replacing one drug with another — it is medical care. Most insurance plans are required to cover MAT. SAMHSA's helpline (1-800-662-4357) can help you find MAT providers in your area.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I am interested in starting medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
Estoy interesado en comenzar el tratamiento con medicamentos para el trastorno por uso de opioides.
Does my insurance plan cover medication-assisted treatment including buprenorphine?
¿Mi plan de seguro cubre el tratamiento con medicamentos, incluida la buprenorfina?
I need to find a MAT provider near me who accepts Medicaid.
Necesito encontrar un proveedor de tratamiento con medicamentos cerca de mí que acepte Medicaid.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026