Otherwise called OBOT for short, office-based opioid treatment is one form of outpatient opioid addiction recovery under the umbrella of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The ambulatory model of care provides comprehensive addiction treatment services for patients using a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone to treat opioid use disorder effectively by reducing withdrawal symptoms. With the help of specialized substance use counseling staff and medical providers certified and trained to understand addiction, patients are in a comfortable setting that promotes long-lasting recovery.
OBOT clinics are appointment-based, and convenient for people who have families or responsibilities that make daily visits to methadone clinics very impractical. Because patients take their medication home and self-dispense as directed, their visits are scheduled check-ins and counseling sessions that can be arranged in advance, making it easier to plan around.
The medical providers at OBOT clinics are licensed providers certified to specialize in addiction and prescribe MAT medications.
Many OBOT treatment services are covered by most insurance providers, including Medicaid and Medicare, unlike methadone treatment, which is restricted in some states and counties. This makes opioid addiction treatment much more affordable and attainable for people in varying economic situations.
Although all MAT is valuable to those with opioid use disorder and backed by tons of evidence proving its efficacy, many people are reluctant to reach out for help because they’ve been shamed or are afraid of people finding out about their condition. OBOT clinics look and function just like regular doctor’s offices, so patients who aren’t comfortable with the format of daily methadone clinic visits don’t have to sacrifice their recovery due to the stigma that still hangs over addiction treatment.
The medication Suboxone ® contains buprenorphine (an opioid medication) and naloxone (Narcan ®). If you take it under the tongue, the buprenorphine works in your body but the naloxone is not absorbed (not active). But if you crush it up and inject it or snort it, the naloxone is active and will make you withdraw if you have other opioids in your body (such as heroin, fentanyl, or pain pills). This helps to make sure people only take it under the tongue and do not inject the medicine. (IHS.GOV)
While there are no medications on-site at OBOT clinics and patients are given prescriptions they can fill at a pharmacy of their choice, many do have on-site substance use counseling. If they’re not on-site, patients receive referrals for outside counseling services. Both individual and group sessions are offered and help patients create a support network for their recovery during treatment and beyond.
Office-based opioid treatment is a great option for those with opioid use disorder who want to privately treat their addiction without making daily trips to a clinic for medication. Middlesex Recovery is ready to assist those considering getting help; call or email our staff today.
