Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Tampa, FL

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Riverside Recovery of Tampa offers MAT programs for both opioid and alcohol addiction, combining FDA-approved medications with evidence-based behavioral therapy. If you’re searching for MAT treatment near you or a trusted suboxone clinic in Tampa, FL, our medical team is ready. Call us today or verify your insurance. Same-day assessments are available.

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What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), also referred to as medically assisted treatment or, in current SAMHSA clinical guidance, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), is the use of FDA-approved medications alongside behavioral therapy and counseling to treat substance use disorders. It is endorsed by SAMHSA, NIDA, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine as a first-line evidence-based approach for opioid and alcohol use disorders. MAT is not a shortcut. It is a clinically proven method for stabilizing the body, reducing the neurological intensity of cravings and withdrawal, and creating the conditions in which therapy can work.

The medications used in MAT work in different ways depending on the substance involved. For opioid use disorder, medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone reduce cravings and block the euphoric effects of opioids. For alcohol use disorder, naltrexone, acamprosate, and other FDA-approved options reduce the urge to drink and disrupt the brain’s reward response to alcohol. In all cases, MAT is integrated with individual therapy, group therapy, and relapse prevention work, not used in isolation.

According to SAMHSA’s 2023 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS-A), treatment programs that combine medication with behavioral therapy consistently produce better retention rates, lower relapse rates, and improved long-term outcomes compared to behavioral therapy alone.

How Riverside Recovery Uses MAT in Tampa

MAT at Riverside Recovery is a medically supervised program overseen by our Medical Director, Dr. Michael Sore, MD, alongside our licensed nursing and clinical staff. Every client who enters MAT begins with a comprehensive medical evaluation that covers substance use history, withdrawal status, any co-occurring medical or mental health conditions, and current medications. That evaluation determines which medication, if any, is clinically appropriate, and what the starting protocol looks like.

Medication selection at Riverside is never one-size-fits-all. For clients in opioid withdrawal, timing matters: buprenorphine-based medications are typically introduced within 12 to 24 hours of the last opioid use, once early withdrawal symptoms are present, to minimize precipitated withdrawal. Vivitrol (extended-release naltrexone injection) is initiated after full detoxification is complete, typically seven or more days after the last opioid use. Alcohol use disorder medications are matched to the phase of treatment and the client’s clinical profile.

What makes Riverside’s MAT program different from a standalone prescription is integration. Clients receiving MAT at Riverside are simultaneously engaged in individual therapy, CBT and DBT group sessions, relapse prevention programming, and, where clinically appropriate, family therapy. MAT removes the neurological interference of craving so clients can be fully present for that work. The medication stabilizes the body; the therapy builds the foundation for lasting recovery.

MAT at Riverside is available across multiple levels of care. Medical detox supports safe and comfortable withdrawal management. In residential treatment, medication is monitored and adjusted as the client progresses. Through our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and outpatient programming, MAT continues as a bridge into independent living, tapered over time based on clinical progress, never abruptly discontinued.

PHP · IOP · Standard Outpatient
Three levels. One clinical team. Your history, your treatment plan, and your therapeutic relationships carry through every transition without resetting.

MAT Medications We Offer

Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone)

Suboxone is the most widely used medication for opioid use disorder and one of the primary medications in Riverside Recovery’s MAT program. It combines buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist that activates opioid receptors at a low level to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing significant euphoria, with naloxone, which blocks opioid receptor activation if the medication is misused by injection. The result is a medication that significantly reduces withdrawal discomfort and craving while carrying a low abuse potential when taken as prescribed.

At Riverside Recovery, Suboxone is administered under the supervision of our medical team, typically introduced 12 to 24 hours after the last opioid use. Dosage is adjusted based on clinical response and tapered gradually over the course of opioid use disorder treatment. For clients in Tampa and throughout Florida searching for a suboxone clinic or suboxone doctors in Tampa, FL, Riverside Recovery’s medically supervised program offers the full induction-to-taper protocol under one roof.

Note: naloxone, the second component in Suboxone, is distinct from naltrexone and serves specifically as an abuse-deterrent within the medication. It is not the same as naloxone emergency rescue medication (Narcan), though our team can discuss naloxone access as part of a broader harm reduction conversation.

Sublocade (Extended-Release Buprenorphine Injection)

Sublocade is a once-monthly buprenorphine injection that delivers the same active ingredient as Suboxone without requiring a daily pill. For clients who want the craving relief and withdrawal management of buprenorphine but prefer a medication that removes the daily decision to take it, Sublocade is a clinically strong alternative. It is administered on-site by our medical team and is particularly well-suited for clients transitioning from residential into outpatient care who want a low-maintenance, high-accountability MAT option.

Vivitrol (Extended-Release Naltrexone Injection)

Vivitrol is a monthly extended-release naltrexone injection that blocks opioid receptor sites in the brain, eliminating the rewarding effects of opioid and alcohol use. Because it is a once-monthly injection rather than a daily medication, it removes the decision to take medication from the equation. There is no pill to skip on a difficult day. That makes it particularly well-suited for clients who have completed detoxification and want a high-accountability MAT option as they transition to outpatient or IOP level of care.

Vivitrol is not appropriate as a first step in opioid treatment. It must be initiated after the client is fully detoxified, typically seven or more days after the last opioid use, to avoid precipitating severe withdrawal. Riverside’s medical team conducts a thorough evaluation to confirm readiness before initiating Vivitrol. It is also an effective option for vivitrol treatment in Tampa for alcohol use disorder, where it significantly reduces alcohol cravings and the pleasurable response to drinking.

Methadone

Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist dispensed through federally licensed opioid treatment programs (OTPs) under specific regulatory requirements. Riverside Recovery manages methadone in the context of detox. Clients arriving on methadone maintenance typically require a pre-facility taper before admission, and dose restrictions apply. Methadone maintenance is not administered as an ongoing MAT protocol at Riverside. If you are currently on a methadone maintenance program and want to transition to a different MAT approach, our admissions team will help you identify the right clinical pathway and coordinate any pre-admission tapering requirements.

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

MAT for alcohol use disorder is a significantly underutilized option despite strong clinical evidence. At Riverside Recovery in Tampa, our MAT program for alcohol includes several FDA-approved options matched to the individual client’s phase of treatment and clinical profile. This is one of the clearest examples of medication-assisted treatment for alcohol addiction, making a concrete difference in outcomes that therapy alone may not achieve.

Naltrexone (oral or injectable) reduces the craving and reward response to alcohol, making it harder for the brain to associate drinking with pleasure. It can be initiated during or after detox and is one of the most versatile medications in alcohol use disorder treatment.

Acamprosate is effective during the early abstinence phase, typically beginning around day five of sobriety. It reduces the protracted withdrawal symptoms, the low-level anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness that can persist for weeks after drinking stops, which are a leading driver of relapse in people who have completed detox.

Extended Benzodiazepine Taper

Benzodiazepine dependency, common among clients managing chronic anxiety, pain, or sleep disorders, requires careful, gradual medical tapering rather than abrupt discontinuation. Riverside Recovery offers extended benzodiazepine taper protocols of 30 days or more, compared to the industry standard of 5 to 10 days. This ASAM-compliant approach significantly reduces the risk of withdrawal seizures and protracted symptoms, and is one of the clinical capabilities that sets Riverside apart from most treatment facilities in the Tampa area. If you or someone you know has been on long-term benzodiazepine use, this is worth discussing with our admissions team before choosing a facility.

Additional Alcohol Use Disorder Medications

Beyond naltrexone and acamprosate, our clinical and medical team may identify additional FDA-approved medications appropriate to your specific history and phase of treatment. Medication selection is always individualized, determined by Dr. Sore and our nursing team based on your full clinical evaluation, not a standard protocol applied to every alcohol use disorder client.

Who Is a Good Candidate for MAT?

MAT is not only for people with severe or long-term addiction histories. It is appropriate for anyone whose substance use is causing significant problems and who is ready to work on recovery with medical and therapeutic support. MAT eligibility at Riverside requires patient agreement, a clinical and medical appropriateness assessment, and a review of any history of medication abuse, all completed before medication is initiated. Our medical team makes every eligibility determination individually, not by formula.

You may be a good candidate for medication-assisted treatment if you:

Are you experiencing opioid withdrawal or have a history of opioid dependence, including prescription painkillers, heroin, or fentanyl
Have tried to quit alcohol before and found that withdrawal symptoms, including shakes, sweating, anxiety, or in severe cases seizures, made stopping unsafe without medical support
Have attempted recovery before without MAT and relapsed, particularly in the early weeks when neurological cravings are strongest
Have a co-occurring mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, alongside your substance use, where reducing physiological withdrawal stress is critical to engaging in dual diagnosis treatment.
Need a structured, medically supervised program, but cannot commit to full inpatient care, and require flexible access to MAT through outpatient or IOP programming.

One practical note for people with alcohol use disorder: many facilities require clients to be below a certain blood alcohol level before they’ll admit them. Riverside Recovery has no blood alcohol level cutoff. If you can complete the intake process and walk to your room, you can be admitted the same day, with no requirement to sober up first and come back later.

Step-by-Step Process

What to Expect: Starting MAT at Riverside Recovery

Starting MAT at Riverside Recovery is designed to be straightforward, medically guided, and as comfortable as possible. Here is what the process looks like from your first call to your first week of treatment.

Contact Admissions

Call (800) 871-5440 or use our online form. Our admissions team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will verify your insurance in real time on the first call and answer any questions about MAT before you commit to anything.

Clinical and Medical Assessment

Before MAT begins, you'll complete a comprehensive evaluation with our licensed clinical and medical team. This covers your substance use history, current physical health, any medications you're taking, and whether any co-occurring conditions need to be addressed alongside MAT. This assessment shapes every subsequent decision.

Medical Evaluation and Medication Selection

Dr. Sore and our nursing staff review your assessment and determine which medication is clinically appropriate, at what dose, and when to initiate it. For opioid use disorder, the team monitors your withdrawal status to identify the right window for starting buprenorphine safely. For alcohol use disorder, medication selection is based on where you are in the detox process and your clinical history.

Medication Induction and Therapy Integration

Once MAT begins, it is integrated immediately with your therapy programming, individual sessions, group therapy, CBT and DBT skills training, and relapse prevention. This is the core of Riverside's approach: medication and therapy together, not sequentially.

Ongoing Monitoring and Dosage Adjustment

MAT is not a set-and-forget protocol. Our medical team monitors your response to medication throughout treatment and adjusts the dosage as needed. Communication between the medical and clinical teams ensures that the medication and therapy work are aligned.

Taper and Transition Planning

MAT at Riverside is time-limited and goal-directed. As you progress through treatment, the clinical team works with you on a taper plan that gradually reduces medication, on a timeline that reflects your clinical stability, not an arbitrary schedule. The goal is independence, not long-term dependence on pharmaceuticals.

MAT Combined With Therapy at Riverside

Medication can quiet the neurological noise of addiction. It cannot, on its own, address the patterns of thought, behavior, and relationship that make addiction persist or the underlying trauma, depression, or anxiety that often drive it. That is what therapy does. And that is why Riverside Recovery’s MAT program is built on a foundation of integrated behavioral treatment, not medication alone.

Every client receiving MAT at Riverside participates in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and restructure the thought patterns that drive substance use, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, the practical skills that prevent relapse in high-stress moments. Group therapy builds accountability, peer connection, and the shared recovery foundation that research consistently links to better long-term outcomes. Family therapy is available to help rebuild the relationships that addiction stresses most.

This is the full continuum of care that Riverside Recovery provides, including medical detox with MAT where needed, residential treatment with daily therapy and ongoing medication management, PHP (Day/Night Program), our Intensive Outpatient Program, with MAT continuing as a standard component of care throughout and outpatient support, all under one roof at our Tampa facility and our New Port Richey location.

MAT without therapy is incomplete. Therapy without MAT, for people whose neurological cravings are overwhelming, can set clients up to struggle unnecessarily. The combination at Riverside Recovery’s Tampa MAT program gives you both.

Insurance and Paying for MAT in Tampa

Most major private insurance plans cover medication-assisted treatment under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which requires insurers to cover substance use disorder treatment, including MAT, at parity with other medical conditions. This includes coverage for both the medications themselves and the associated therapy and medical monitoring.

Riverside Recovery is in-network with most major private insurance carriers and works directly with benefits administrators to maximize your coverage. Our admissions team verifies your benefits in real time on the first call, so you understand your out-of-pocket costs before you begin. Use our free online insurance verification tool or call (800) 871-5440 to confirm your specific MAT coverage today.

Call 800-871-5440 or verify your insurance online, no commitment required.

Insurance We Accept

In-network with most major private carriers in Tampa Bay

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Frequently Asked Questions About MAT

The cost of MAT varies based on the level of care, the specific medications prescribed, and your insurance coverage. Most private insurance plans cover MAT under mental health parity laws, and Riverside Recovery is in-network with most major carriers. Our admissions team verifies your benefits in real time before your first appointment. For clients with limited or no insurance coverage, our team will explore all available options and payment arrangements before you begin.
No. MAT is one component of a comprehensive addiction treatment program, not a standalone alternative to rehab. At Riverside Recovery, MAT is integrated into our full treatment continuum: medical detox, residential treatment, PHP, IOP, and outpatient programming. Medication manages the neurological dimension of addiction; rehab addresses the behavioral, psychological, and relational dimensions through individual therapy, group therapy, CBT, DBT, and relapse prevention. The most effective outcomes come from MAT and behavioral therapy working together.
Medication-assisted treatment at Riverside Recovery includes a comprehensive medical evaluation, medication selection by our licensed medical team under the supervision of Dr. Michael Sore, MD, medication induction and ongoing dosage adjustment, regular medical monitoring throughout treatment, and full integration with individual therapy, group therapy, CBT, and DBT. MAT is not a prescription-and-go program. It is a supervised clinical process embedded within a full behavioral treatment program.
MAT duration depends on the individual, the substance, and the clinical trajectory. For opioid use disorder, SAMHSA guidelines support MAT for as long as clinically indicated, sometimes months, sometimes longer, with gradual tapering based on stability rather than arbitrary time limits. For alcohol use disorder, medication timelines are typically shorter and tied to the early abstinence and relapse prevention phases. At Riverside Recovery, our medical team works with each client on a personalized taper plan that is adjusted based on progress, not a fixed calendar.
Yes. Medication-assisted treatment for alcohol use disorder is one of the most evidence-supported and underutilized tools in addiction medicine. Riverside Recovery offers naltrexone (oral and injectable) and acamprosate as MAT options for alcohol use disorder, each matched to the client’s phase of treatment and clinical history. If you have struggled to maintain sobriety from alcohol, especially in the early weeks when protracted withdrawal symptoms drive relapse, MAT for alcohol is worth discussing with our clinical team.
Yes, in most cases. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires insurance plans that cover behavioral health to cover substance use disorder treatment, including MAT medications and associated medical monitoring at parity with other medical benefits. Riverside Recovery is in-network with most major private insurance plans. Call (800) 871-5440 or use our free insurance verification tool, and we will confirm your specific MAT coverage on the same call.

Start MAT Treatment in Tampa Today

Cravings and withdrawal aren’t a test of character; they’re biology. And biology can be treated. At Riverside Recovery of Tampa, our medication-assisted treatment program provides you with the medical and clinical support to get through the hardest part of early recovery and build a durable foundation for what comes next.

Our admissions team is available now. Call, and we’ll verify your insurance in real time, answer your questions about our MAT program, and connect you with our clinical team for a same-day assessment if needed. MAT treatment near you is available, and it doesn’t have to wait.

What Our Alumni Are Saying

This treatment center truly saved my life and helped ease me into recovery. I will be 4 years sober this year, thanks to the help of the technicians, therapists, and groups provided by Riverside. The food is great, the facility is clean, and they keep you busy with fun activities. Would highly recommend to anyone who is struggling!

As someone who works in mental health and substance abuse, I can say that Riverside Recovery does AMAZING work. We trust them with our clients and frequently refer clients to them. I’ve also had a number for friends and family get treatment at Riverside it has changed their lives for the better. They are saving lives!

Omg. Riverside Recovery and it's staff gave the me the tools I needed to face a life of recovery. It's been a journey for sure so far but I was prepared. They helped to change my life. Thank you for all the care and compassion you show each day to each client. Thank you for helping to save my life. If you feel you need help please contact Riverside Recovery. Love always. Stephen

As a referring provider, there are so many great people that make Riverside easy to trust. Anthony S makes me feel confident that my clients are getting the best care and a seamless experience

Riverside Recovery was amazing and was there for me during probably the most difficult time in my life. Great staff and facilities with just the right amount of motivation to make me want to change myself, for myself!! Thank you!

Riverside saved my life and provided quality care throughout the process! I successfully completed the entire clinical program and as an alumni they provide continuous care as I continue building a life of successful sobriety. Clients Services director Shannon M. is incredible to work with. I also want to shout out techs that were especially helpful to me - Both Justin's, Savannah, Jess, and Sloan.

Find Riverside Recovery of Tampa

Centrally located on the Hillsborough River near downtown Tampa. Easily accessible from Tampa International Airport. PHP, IOP, and standard outpatient programs available.

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4004 N Riverside Dr., Tampa, FL 33603

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24 Hours a Day · 7 Days a Week · Same-day assessments available

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Hillsborough, Pinellas & Pasco Counties · Tampa Bay Area

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Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in Tampa, FL

Verify Your Insurance

Accreditations & Certifications

Programs

What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

How Riverside Recovery Uses MAT in Tampa

MAT Medications We Offer

Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone)

Sublocade (Extended-Release Buprenorphine Injection)

Vivitrol (Extended-Release Naltrexone Injection)

Methadone

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

Extended Benzodiazepine Taper

Additional Alcohol Use Disorder Medications

Who Is a Good Candidate for MAT?

What to Expect: Starting MAT at Riverside Recovery

Contact Admissions

Clinical and Medical Assessment

Medical Evaluation and Medication Selection

Medication Induction and Therapy Integration

Ongoing Monitoring and Dosage Adjustment

Taper and Transition Planning

MAT Combined With Therapy at Riverside

Insurance and Paying for MAT in Tampa

Insurance We Accept

Frequently Asked Questions About MAT

How much does medication-assisted treatment cost?

Is MAT the same as rehab?

What is included in medication-assisted treatment?

How long does MAT treatment last?

Can you get MAT for alcohol addiction?

Does insurance cover MAT programs?

Start MAT Treatment in Tampa Today

What Our Alumni Are Saying

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