Medically Assisted Treatment & Resources

Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) offers FDA approved medications that help to address opioid withdrawal symptoms and promote long-term recovery.

MAT allows people to recover by relieving withdrawal symptoms. When properly prescribed, MAT medications reduce drug cravings and can prevent relapse without causing a “high”.This treatment approach has shown to improve patient survival, increase retention in treatment, employment ability and activities of daily living while also decreasing opioid use and criminal activity.

Benefits of MAT

• Replaces dopamine (dopamine is a hormone that occurs naturally in our bodies)
• Improves a person’s daily living and overall well-being
• Increased retention in treatment
• Decreased cravings (cravings begin when there is a lack of dopamine)
• Decreased opioid use (e.g. use of fentanyl)
• Decreased intravenous drug use (IVDU) and complications
• Decreased overdose
• Decreased mortality
• Decreased criminal behavior

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, March 23). Dopamine: What it is, Function & Symptoms.

Types of MAT

• Buprenorphine (also known as Suboxone, Buprenex, Sublocade, Subutex, and Butrans)
• Methadone (also known as Dolophine, Diskets, and Methadose)
• Naltrexone (also known as Vivitrol, Decade, and Revia)
• Brixaldi

Our MAT Programs

This service is supported by a federal grant under the State Opioid Response Program, with funding provided by the California Department of Health Care Services.

Additional Access to MAT

Family Health Centers of San Diego
La Maestra Clinic
Comprehensive Treatment Center
San Diego Suboxone
SOAP MAT
Kaiser Permanente
Neighborhood Healthcare
A New Path
Live Well SD
Narcan Direct
Youth Opioid Response Project

Additional Resources

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

Opioids are natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic chemicals that interact with opioid receptors in the body and brain to reduce the perception of pain.

OUD exists on a spectrum and may be mild, moderate or severe, and generally involves an overpowering drive to use opioids despite consequences and interference with daily life.

OUD is a specific type of substance use disorder—a mental health condition where chronic misuse of opioids can impair a person’s wellbeing and lead to risky use with potential health consequences like relapse, overdose, and death.

Individuals with OUD struggle to control their use of opioids and their behaviors.

Signs of an Opioid Overdose

Learn how to spot an overdose and what to do. An opioid overdose happens when a person takes too much of an opioid, or combination of opioids and other drugs, at a level that is toxic to the body.

• Cannot be woken up or not moving
• Breathing slow or absent
• Cold or clammy skin
• Choking or coughing, gurgling, or snoring sounds
• Dizziness and disorientation
• Discoloration of lips and nails
• Pupils extremely small

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if a person who is using opioids is just very high or experiencing a life-threatening overdose. If you are unsure, it is best to assume there is an overdose — call 911 and utilize Naloxone if available.

NARCAN (Naloxone)

NARCAN is a potentially lifesaving medication designed to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes. NARCAN is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression.

Since most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, NARCAN Nasal Spray was developed for first responders, as well as family, friends, and caregivers and requires no specialized training. Naloxone NARCAN Nasal Spray is not harmful to anyone and only responsive if their substance is opioid. Naloxone will approximately wear off within 30-60 minutes.

• Use second dose, if no response within 2-3 minutes
• Store in room temperature or refrigerate between 36° F to 77° F (2° F to 25° C)
• Do not freeze
• Avoid excessive heat above 104°F (40°C)
• Protect from light

NARCAN Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care.

You can have NARCAN mailed to you (learn more at https://www.hrcsd.org/). You can also pick up NARCAN (learn more https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/phs/od2a/naloxone.html#pickup or https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/phs/od2a/naloxone.html#distribution).

Fentanyl Test Strips

Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a cost-effective harm reduction method that helps to prevent drug overdoses. These strips of paper have the ability to detect whether or not fentanyl is present in different drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, regardless of their form (e.g. powder or injectables). FTS gives individuals the autonomy to make positive changes in their life on their own terms by providing crucial information about fentanyl to help reduce the risks of an overdose.

Find where to purchase FTS here https://www.amazon.com/fentanyl-test-strips/s?k=fentanyl+test+strips or here https://dancesafe.org/shop/.

Syringe Service Programs

Syringe Service Programs (SSPs) in San Diego

On Point (Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego)
Phone: 1-888-NARCAN-01 (1-888-627-2260)
Hours (phone line): Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Email: harmreduxsd@gmail.com
Website: www.hrcsd.org

Safe Point San Diego (Family Health Centers of SD)
Address: Imperial Ave and 16th Street
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Address: North Park Way and 31st Street
Hours: Fridays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Phone: 619-993-0216
Website: www.fhcsd.org/syringe-services-program/