Medication-Assisted Treatment Needs-Based Assessment

Medication-Assisted Treatment Needs-Based Assessment Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is intriguing addiction treatment concept, in that it treats individuals with a combination of an addictive, substitute opioid medication (Methadone or Suboxone), in conjunction with counseling therapy. MAT is a significantly popular and practiced evidence-based treatment model throughout the word for this population. (De Maeyer et al., 2011). Unlike abstinence-based models of treatment, MAT as a treatment and program model has its own set of unique difficulties for many of its participating clients. In this paper, the author will examine the necessity for, as well as present an example of, a needs-based assessment for the MAT population. It will identify …show more content…
The primary format of this assessment would be via pencil and paper, which the individual client completes themselves. The first portion of the assessment requests demographic information. Astramovich (2011) discussed the importance of acquiring demographic information, as that information can be utilized to find potential patterns or common factors stand out amongst specific populations. Secondly, a combination of ranking scales and Likert-type scales are incorporated within the assessment. Since this the purpose of this needs-based assessment is to determine individual treatment outcomes, these scales not only the client, but also the counselor, identify the most pressing issues of concern and focus for the client. Lastly, the use, while limited, of open-ended questions, provides the opportunity for more insight for both the client, counselor, and all stakeholders, on areas of importance in the dimensions (Astramovich, 2011). The open-ended questions also allow for a deeper understanding in the case of clients, who have had multiple relapses or program drop-outs, as to what worked, or more importantly, didn’t work …show more content…
Primarily identified goal areas, as well as quality of life dimensions that were indicated by the client, would be taken into consideration collaboratively to help achieve the most suitable outcome of treatment. Additionally, data could be compiled, synthesized, and presented to treatment providers to demonstrate potential inconsistencies in their views of goal areas and quality of life dimensions compared to clients’. Trujols et al. (2013) stated this application offers the ability for “rethinking what is meant by a successful [treatment],” for providers, as well as offering insight into more direct and inclusive treatment outcome models, (p. 558). If the proposed needs-based assessment was implemented on a large scale, data analysis could also change programming requirements when treatment facilities are government funded. The assessment could be completed as an ongoing format to determine program viability and client success, leading to real change in the implementation of MAT