What This Treatment Is

Opioid MAT is Medication-Assisted Treatment specifically for opioid use disorder (OUD). It combines FDA-approved medications — buprenorphine, naltrexone, or (through referral) methadone — with counseling and behavioral therapy. It is the standard of care for OUD per SAMHSA and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Medications Used for OUD

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist (delivered as Suboxone or monotherapy) that prevents withdrawal and cravings without producing meaningful euphoria at therapeutic doses. Naltrexone is a full opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids entirely, available as a daily oral tablet or a monthly injection (Vivitrol). Methadone is a full opioid agonist that must be dispensed through federally certified Opioid Treatment Programs; we refer to certified OTPs when methadone is the clinical fit.

Why Medication Matters for OUD

Opioid use disorder is not simply a matter of willpower. Chronic opioid use produces measurable changes in brain reward and stress systems that persist after the drug is gone. Medication stabilizes those systems so therapy can do its work. Peer-reviewed research consistently shows MAT reduces overdose mortality and improves treatment retention compared with therapy alone.

Our Care Model: Specialty-Led, Distinct Primary Tracks

Elevated Healing operates separate primary treatment tracks for Mental Health and Substance Use, each led by the appropriate clinical specialty from day one. When both are present, our teams coordinate care across tracks so the full clinical picture is addressed without collapsing treatment into a single generalized program.

This is different from a blended or generalized model. Read more on our Care Model page.

Elevated Healing’s Specialty-Led Approach

Our Woodland Hills team treats opioid use disorder as its own primary track under board-certified psychiatric leadership. Medication is selected based on the individual’s history, health status, treatment goals, and — importantly — what they’ll actually take consistently.

The clinical process:

  • Full psychiatric and substance use evaluation at intake.
  • Medication selection: buprenorphine, oral naltrexone, or Vivitrol (or referral to a certified OTP for methadone).
  • Induction planned to avoid precipitated withdrawal.
  • Concurrent therapy: CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy — matched to the patient.
  • Regular psychiatric follow-up, moving from weekly to monthly as stability builds.
  • Coordinated psychiatric care when a mental health condition is also present.
Evidence base. The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes MAT for opioid use disorder as evidence-based treatment with demonstrated effect on overdose mortality and treatment retention. Read the NIDA overview →

Access at Our Woodland Hills Campus

Our campus is at 21250 Califa St, Ste 114, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, in the West San Fernando Valley. Access is straightforward:

  • From the 101 (Ventura Freeway) — exit at De Soto Avenue or Winnetka Avenue and drive a short distance north.
  • From the 118 (Ronald Reagan Freeway) — take Winnetka or De Soto south into the West Valley.
  • Nearby communities — Warner Center, Winnetka, West Hills, Canoga Park, Tarzana, and Encino are all a short drive.
  • Telehealth — after your initial in-person assessment, most follow-up psychiatric visits can be done by video for California residents.

Parking and check-in details are provided at intake. If accessibility accommodations are needed, tell our admissions team when you call.

Program Levels That Deliver This Care

This service is delivered inside the level of care that matches your clinical need at intake. Level of care can shift over time as treatment progresses.

Partial Hospitalization (PHP)

Structured day program, five days per week, with psychiatric oversight and integrated therapy.

Learn about PHP

Intensive Outpatient (IOP)

Three-to-five sessions per week that allow work or school to continue.

Learn about IOP

Outpatient (OP)

Weekly therapy plus regular psychiatric visits — well-suited to step-down maintenance.

Learn about OP

Telehealth Follow-Up

Video visits with the psychiatric provider, available across California for eligible patients.

Learn about telehealth

Insurance, Cost, and Getting Started

Most commercial insurance plans cover opioid mat under mental health and substance use disorder benefits, which are subject to federal parity requirements under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Parity means insurers cannot impose stricter limits on behavioral health services than they apply to physical health services — a real legal protection worth knowing you have when you call.

The first step is a conversation with our admissions team. This call is free, confidential, and carries no obligation. During it, we:

  • Verify your insurance benefits within one business day.
  • Confirm what’s covered, what your copay or coinsurance will be, and whether prior authorization applies.
  • Start any required prior authorization on your behalf so you’re not stuck on hold with your insurer.
  • Schedule a clinical evaluation — usually within a few business days of your first call, sooner when the situation is time-sensitive.

If insurance doesn’t cover the service or your plan design doesn’t fit, self-pay options can be discussed. There is no charge to have this conversation. Reach us at (747) 888-3000 or use our insurance verification form.

What Progress Looks Like

Recovery through opioid mat is not a straight line, and durable clinical outcomes rarely happen in weeks. Realistic timelines matter here more than optimistic promises. Most patients notice measurable improvement in the first month of consistent treatment — reduced cravings, more stable mood, better sleep, easier engagement with therapy. Substantive behavioral change typically takes root over three to six months.

Progress is reviewed at every clinical visit. We measure it in specifics: frequency of the target behavior, functional recovery in work and relationships, sleep quality, and — where medications are involved — how well the pharmacology is holding cravings and side effects. When something isn’t working, we adjust. That might mean a dose change, a therapy focus shift, or a step up or down in level of care. The plan follows the patient’s clinical picture, not the other way around.

Setbacks are treated as clinical data, not moral failure. If a relapse or symptom flare happens, the team’s job is to understand what led to it and refine the plan. Patients are not discharged for a relapse. Long-term recovery is often what happens after the acute treatment phase ends, and we plan for that from the first visit — through aftercare planning, coordinated hand-offs, and telehealth follow-up available across California.

Confidentiality and HIPAA Protections

Treatment records at Elevated Healing are protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and, for substance use records specifically, under 42 CFR Part 2 — a federal regulation providing additional protection for substance use disorder treatment information. That means treatment status and clinical details are not disclosed to family members, employers, or third parties without your written authorization, except in narrowly defined legal circumstances (imminent harm, court order).

Practical protections include HIPAA-compliant scheduling and communication systems, secure insurance verification channels, and billing structured to minimize what appears on statements. Patients with heightened confidentiality concerns can request specific accommodations at intake — arrival timing, check-in flow, telehealth-first scheduling — and our admissions team will confirm what’s available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which OUD medication is right for me?
That’s a clinical decision made at intake based on your opioid history, current use, other medical conditions, and preference. Buprenorphine works for most patients. Naltrexone requires a full opioid detox first but is a fit for patients who prefer an antagonist. Methadone (via referral) is considered when other options aren’t a fit.
What if I've tried MAT before and it didn't work?
Prior treatment attempts don’t disqualify you. Often the issue is medication choice, dose, structure, or the therapy layer — not a failure on your part. We review what happened previously and design a plan based on that history.
How long will I be on medication for OUD?
There is no fixed duration. Some patients benefit from long-term maintenance; others taper after a defined stabilization period. Duration is a clinical decision made with your provider based on your response and goals. Longer is often better; forced tapers frequently backfire.
Can I use MAT and stay in school or work?
Yes. MAT is designed to allow normal daily functioning. Most patients are more able — not less — to work or study once medication has stabilized cravings and withdrawal. Level of care is matched to your schedule; IOP and OP are designed for this.
What if I relapse while on MAT?
Relapse is a clinical event, not a moral failure. It’s addressed as data: what happened, what got in the way, what needs to change in the plan. Medication may need adjustment, therapy focus may shift, or level of care may need to step up temporarily. We don’t discharge patients for a relapse.
Does insurance cover opioid MAT?
Most commercial insurance plans cover MAT — medications, psychiatric visits, and therapy — under mental health and substance use disorder benefits subject to federal parity requirements. Our admissions team verifies benefits within one business day. Reach us at (747) 888-3000.

If You’re in Crisis

If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, help is available 24/7. You are not alone.

Trusted External Resources

Independent, evidence-based sources on the topics covered on this page:

SAMHSA — Medications for Substance Use Disorders →

Federal public health agency’s clinical overview of MAT for opioid use disorder.

National Institute on Drug Abuse — OUD →

NIH institute research on opioid use disorder, treatment, and prevention.

FDA — Information About MOUD →

FDA drug information on buprenorphine, naltrexone, and other OUD medications.

American Psychiatric Association →

APA’s public-facing guidance on substance use disorders.

CDC Overdose Prevention →

CDC data and prevention resources for opioid overdose.

Ready to Talk About Opioid MAT?

Our admissions team can walk you through what treatment looks like, verify insurance benefits, and answer questions. Conversations are confidential.

Call us confidentially at (747) 888-3000 — or request a consultation online.

Schedule Your Consultation
Vital Voice Online

Schedule a Consultation

Fill out the form below and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Request Sent!

We've received your request and will be in touch within 24 hours.

Something went wrong