Recovery Resources

Everything here is free, checked against primary sources, and written by someone who has been in the room. If you need help right now, start at the top.

Get help now

• SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English and Spanish. They will refer you to treatment. They are not law enforcement.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988. If you're in crisis, this is the number.
• FindTreatment.gov — search treatment near you by zip code.
• SAMHSA Opioid Treatment Program Directory — the official list of certified methadone clinics, by state.

What MAT actually is

MAT stands for medication-assisted treatment. You'll also see MOUD, medications for opioid use disorder, which is the term most clinicians use now. Three medications are FDA-approved:

• Methadone. Long-acting, dispensed through a licensed opioid treatment program. Stops withdrawal and cravings at a stable dose.
• Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade, others). A partial agonist. A certified prescriber can write for it and you fill it at a pharmacy.
• Naltrexone (Vivitrol). Blocks opioid effects. Requires being fully off opioids before starting.

None of these is a moral ranking. Which one fits depends on your history, your access, and your provider.

What changed in 2024

Federal rules for methadone treatment were rewritten, and a lot of what's published online is now out of date. The two changes that matter most:

• The one-year rule is gone. You no longer need a documented year of opioid use to be admitted. The standard is moderate to severe opioid use disorder, or opioid use disorder in remission, or high risk of return to use or overdose.
• Take-homes come much faster. Up to 7 days of take-home supply in the first two weeks, up to 14 days after that, up to 28 days from day 31.

If a clinic or a website tells you otherwise, it's fair to ask them to check the current regulation.

Guides

• What actually happens on your first day at a methadone clinic
• Take-homes: how they actually work and how to earn them

More coming. See all guides.

Common questions

Is methadone being substituted for another drug? Does it get you high? Can you work and drive on it? Answers are on the home page.

The research

Every claim on this site traces back to published studies. See the research, what each study found, and where to read it yourself — including what the evidence does not say.

Sources we use

• SAMHSA — 42 CFR Part 8 Final Rule
• eCFR — 42 CFR Part 8
• NIDA — Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
• CDC — Treating Opioid Use Disorder

If something on this page is wrong or out of date, tell me and I'll fix it.

I'm not a doctor. I have 20 years of experience in this world, and I share what I know alongside sources you can check yourself. This is information, not medical advice. Your dose and your treatment plan are between you and your provider.