Navigating MAT: Vivitrol vs Suboxone

Medication‑assisted treatment options like Vivitrol and Suboxone aren’t magic bullets, but they can be powerful tools in reducing cravings and maintaining long-term recovery from addiction — especially when combined with counseling, peer support, and lifestyle changes. Let’s walk through what these options are, who they help, how they work, and what to expect, so you can make an informed, compassionate choice that fits your recovery journey.

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based approach to treating substance use disorders — most often opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD).

MAT combines:

1. FDA-approved medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, curb cravings, and help restore normal brain chemistry.
2. Counseling and behavioral therapies to address the psychological, emotional, and social aspects of addiction.

The idea is simple but powerful: treat addiction the same way we treat other chronic illnesses — by using medication where appropriate, alongside supportive care, rather than relying on willpower alone.

Key Points About MAT Medications

1. They Can Help Ease Withdrawal Symptoms

When someone stops using opioids or alcohol, the brain and body react with painful withdrawal symptoms — things like muscle aches, anxiety, sweating, nausea, and trouble sleeping. MAT medications like Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) or methadone activate opioid receptors just enough to relieve withdrawal without causing a full high, making the detox process safer and more tolerable.

2. They Can Help Reduce Drug/Alcohol Cravings

Even after withdrawal ends, cravings can be intense for weeks or months because the brain’s reward system is still out of balance. Medications like naltrexone (Vivitrol) block the “high” that comes from using opioids or drinking alcohol, so the urge to use is less rewarding. Buprenorphine also fills opioid receptors to quiet cravings.

3. They Can Block the Pleasurable Effects of Substances

Some MAT medications (like Vivitrol) completely block opioids or alcohol from activating the brain’s reward system. If someone relapses while on these medications, they won’t feel the euphoric effects, which can help break the cycle of use.

4. They Can Stabilize Brain Chemistry

Addiction changes the way the brain processes pleasure, stress, and self-control. MAT medications help stabilize brain function, allowing people to think more clearly, manage their emotions better, and fully participate in therapy and daily life.

5. They Can Lower the Risk of Relapse + Overdose

Research shows that being on MAT significantly reduces the risk of relapse and fatal overdose compared to going without medication (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2023). By providing a safety net during early and vulnerable stages of recovery, MAT gives individuals time to build healthy coping strategies and support systems.

MAT medications don’t replace rehab or immersive addiction treatment — they make it possible for people to stay in treatment long enough to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally, giving them a real chance at lasting sobriety.

Understanding Suboxone

Suboxone is a prescription medicine used to treat opioid addiction.

It comes in the form of a small film or tablet that dissolves under your tongue (sublingual) or against the inside of your cheek (buccal). Suboxone contains two ingredients:

• Buprenorphine – a partial opioid agonist that attaches to the brain’s opioid receptors just enough to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings, but without producing the intense high of drugs like heroin or oxycodone.
• Naloxone – an opioid antagonist included to discourage misuse. If someone tries to inject or snort Suboxone, the naloxone can trigger sudden withdrawal, making misuse unpleasant.

When taken as prescribed, Suboxone helps individuals feel stable, think clearly, and function normally while reducing the risk of relapse and overdose. It works best as part of a complete treatment plan that includes counseling, support groups, and other recovery resources.

Understanding Vivitrol

Vivitrol is a prescription, long-acting injection used to help treat opioid addiction and alcohol addiction.

It contains naltrexone, a medicine that blocks the brain’s opioid receptors. This means:

• If you drink alcohol, it reduces the pleasurable effects and can lower cravings.
• If you take opioids, it prevents the “high” you’d normally feel, which can help stop relapse.

Vivitrol is given once a month as a shot in the muscle, so you don’t have to remember a daily pill. It’s not an opioid and is not addictive, but you must be completely detoxed from opioids — typically at least 7–10 days — before starting, or it can trigger sudden, severe withdrawal.

When combined with counseling, support groups, and other recovery tools, Vivitrol can help individuals stay focused on building a life free from alcohol or opioid use.

Read more: The Role of Vivitrol in AUD + OUD Recovery

When is Suboxone a Better Choice?

1. You Haven’t Fully Detoxed Yet

• Suboxone can be started once you’re in mild withdrawal from opioids. You don’t have to be completely opioid-free, which makes it easier to start right after stopping use.
• Vivitrol requires full detox — usually 7–10 days opioid-free — so if you can’t or don’t want to go through that first, Suboxone is more practical.

2. You Need Immediate Relief from Withdrawal

• Suboxone actively reduces withdrawal symptoms like muscle aches, anxiety, and insomnia right away.
• Vivitrol doesn’t treat withdrawal — it’s a relapse-prevention tool, not a detox medication.

3. You Need Flexibility in Treatment

• Suboxone is available in films or tablets you take daily, allowing adjustments in dose as your needs change.
• Vivitrol is a monthly shot — once it’s in, you can’t lower the dose until next month.

4. You Want to Reduce Overdose Risk During Early Recovery

• Studies show Suboxone can cut the risk of fatal overdose by ~50% (Sordo et al., 2017), especially in the high-risk weeks right after stopping use.

When is Vivitrol a Better Choice?

1. You’ve Fully Detoxed and Want a Non-Opioid Option

• Vivitrol contains no opioids and has no abuse potential.
• Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist, so while it’s safe when prescribed, it still carries some risk of dependence.

2. You Struggle with Daily Medication Adherence

• Vivitrol is a once-a-month injection, which can help if remembering to take a daily dose is hard or if you’ve had issues with sticking to a pill regimen.

3. You Want to Avoid Any “Opioid Effect”

• Some prefer not to take any medication that activates opioid receptors, even partially.
• Vivitrol blocks receptors completely, so there’s zero opioid activation.

4. You Also Have Alcohol Use Disorder

• Vivitrol is FDA-approved for both alcohol and opioid addiction, so it may be a good choice if alcohol is also part of your recovery goals.

MAT + Comprehensive Addiction Treatment

1. Counseling + Therapy

• Therapy (like cognitive behavioral therapy or motivational interviewing) helps individuals understand the root causes of their substance use, challenge unhealthy thinking patterns, and develop coping strategies.
• Group therapy offers peer understanding, shared experiences, and accountability.

2. Peer + Community Support

• Peer recovery coaches — individuals in long-term recovery — can be powerful role models and motivators.
• Programs like 12-step fellowships (AA/NA) and other peer-led groups offer ongoing encouragement and support through connections.

Read more: AA vs Al-Anon: How Each Supports Individuals in Recovery

3. Treatment for Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions

• Many individuals with addiction also live with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or bipolar disorder. Treating these alongside addiction (called dual diagnosis care) is critical, because untreated mental health issues can fuel relapse.

4. Positive Lifestyle Changes

• Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and quality sleep all contribute to improved mood, reduced stress, and enhanced body recovery.
• Building structured daily routines can reduce idle time — a major trigger for cravings.

5. Family Education + Involvement

• Family therapy or educational programs can repair damaged relationships, teach loved ones how to support recovery, and reduce conflict at home.

6. Recovery-Focused Living Environment

• Sober living homes or supportive housing can provide a safe, drug-free environment, especially in early recovery.
• Avoiding high-risk people and places is easier when your home life supports sobriety.

7. Relapse Prevention Planning

• Identifying personal triggers, creating an emergency plan, and practicing healthy coping skills increase the chances of staying sober through challenges.

Learn more: Relapse Prevention at STR Behavioral Health

The Bottom Line

MAT medications like Suboxone and Vivitrol, can remove the biggest immediate barriers — cravings and withdrawal — to getting clean. But these other elements of treatment address the emotional, social, and environmental sides of addiction. Together, they create a recovery plan that treats the whole person instead of just the symptoms of addiction or withdrawal.

Your Path to Recovery Starts Here

At STR Silver Pines treatment center, we know that breaking free from addiction takes more than willpower — it takes the right combination of medical care, support, and guidance. That’s why we offer medical detox to safely manage withdrawal, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to reduce cravings and stabilize recovery, and immersive residential addiction treatment that addresses the root causes of substance use.

Your path to lasting sobriety starts with the right next step. Contact our admissions team today or complete the form below to learn more about our detox and addiction treatment programs. Recovery is possible — we’re here to help you.

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References

• Sordo, L., Barrio, G., Bravo, M. J., Indave, B. I., Degenhardt, L., Wiessing, L., Ferri, M., & Pastor-Barriuso, R. (2017). Mortality risk during and after opioid substitution treatment: Systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ, 357, j1550.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023, June 30). Medications for opioid use disorder research report: What is the impact of medication for opioid use disorder treatment on opioid overdose? National Institutes of Health.