FAQ

What is Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)?

“Medication Assisted Treatment” is a medical treatment plan that can help patients recover from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Opioid use disorder can be difficult to beat, but MAT can help you.

What is Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)?

“Opioid Use Disorder” is another way of saying that someone has an addiction to opioids. This includes misusing opioid pain medication, which may increase the risk of becoming addicted.

Symptoms of OUD:

1. Taking opioids in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended.
2. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control opioid use.
3. Spending a great deal of time in activities necessary to obtain and use the opioid, or recover from its effects.
4. Craving, or a strong desire to use opioids.
5. Recurrent opioid use resulting in failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home.
6. Continued opioid use despite having persistent or recurrent social problems caused by the effects of opioids.
7. Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of opioid use.
8. Recurrent opioid use in situations in which it is physically hazardous.
9. Continued use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem linked to opioid use.
10. Tolerance, as defined by either: (a) A need for increased amounts of opioids to achieve the desired effect. (b)  Diminished effects with continued use of the same amount of an opioid.
11. Withdrawal, as shown by either: (a) The characteristic opioid withdrawal syndrome. (b) Taking the same substance to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

What is the Rural Recovery Network?

Funded by the Colorado Senate Bill 21-137, the Rural Recovery Network (RRN) is expanding access to opioid treatment in the San Luis Valley (SLV) and the Arkansas Valley. The SLV includes Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Rio Grande, Mineral, Saguache, and Custer counties. The Arkansas Valley includes Fremont, Otero, Bent, and Prowers counties. 

RRN works with a partnership of medical providers and community organizations across these counties. Its mission is to reduce treatment barriers, speed up scheduling, and respond to the unique needs of each client.

What to Expect

Transportation:

Rural Colorado is a big place, and transportation to treatment is sometimes limited or not available. To reduce that barrier, RRN will first look at what part of Southern Colorado or the Arkansas Valley you live in. If transportation is a problem, RRN can schedule your closest provider or free transportation to treatment.

Treatment:

Unlike “rehab” programs, RRN will not require you to stay in a treatment center. Most of the time, treatment through RRN happens in primary medical care clinics. If your current family doctor is part of the program, RRN can help you begin treatment in a familiar setting.