Located in Lynnwood, Washington, Lynnwood Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC) provides outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for adults age 18 and older who are struggling with addictions to opioids. Research has shown that MAT is successful in helping people overcome opioid addictions because it combines talk therapy with the use of prescription medications. Talk therapy gives patients an opportunity to address the psychological components of addiction, while the prescription medications that are used help with the physical aspects. At Lynnwood CTC, we can prescribe methadone and buprenorphine. Both medications are FDA-approved, and the specific one a patient is prescribed is based on the results of an assessment they complete before entering treatment. Methadone and buprenorphine work by helping to alleviate the uncomfortable and distressing symptoms of withdrawal so that people can successfully begin their recovery process. Because symptoms of withdrawal are often what lead people back to using opioids, by taking these medications, they may be preventing relapse. Counseling is essential to ensuring that patients receive well-rounded treatment for opioid addictions, and at Lynnwood CTC, patients have the opportunity to participate in both individual and group counseling sessions. All sessions are led by qualified professionals who have extensive experience in providing treatment for people who have substance use disorders. In individual counseling, patients meet with a counselor in a confidential setting, while in group counseling, they meet with a counselor and peers together. During these sessions, the counselors lead discussions on a variety of topics that are relevant to the patients’ experiences. Examples of topics that may be discussed include triggers, developing healthy boundaries, and relapse prevention. Both individual and group counseling offer patients time to talk about their experiences while also gaining support and receiving encou
