Opioid Crisis, Medication, and Dignity: Rethinking MAT with Compassion

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal explore one of the most pressing and complex issues in addiction medicine today: the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Fresh from a conference focused on OUD, Dr. Dyben shares insights that sparked a deeper dialogue around the medical, ethical, and systemic challenges of treating opioid addiction, particularly the “medication-first” model, which often begins patients on opioid agonists or partial agonists, even if they’ve been sober for extended periods.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The “Why” Behind MAT: A nuanced breakdown of why MAT has become the standard for many, and why it may be necessary in a system where access to quality residential care is limited.
• Agonists, Antagonists, and Partial Agonists Explained: Understand the science behind commonly used medications like Suboxone and Vivitrol, and how they interact with the brain’s opioid receptors.
• Addiction vs. Dependence: Clarifying a critical distinction: being physiologically dependent on a medication doesn’t always equate to being addicted.
• Hanley’s Individualized Approach: Learn how Hanley Center integrates MAT into detox and residential treatment, always prioritizing patient dignity, preference, and long-term recovery outcomes.
• The Importance of Patient Choice: Why patient education, not fear, should guide decisions around medication.
• Systemic Gaps in Care: Why insurance restrictions, treatment hierarchies, and stigmatizing language are all part of the problem, and how Hanley is working to offer a different path.
• Treating Addiction Like the Chronic Disease It Is: Dr. Dyben compares addiction recovery to physical trauma recovery, reminding us that intensive support should be the default, not the last resort.

The episode offers an honest reflection on Hanley’s decades-long philosophy of treating the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — and why comprehensive residential care makes all the difference. From flexible detox to long-term tapering protocols and scholarship-based support, Hanley’s commitment to dignity and personalized treatment shines through.

Learn more about Hanley Center’s Treatment programs at: hanleycenter.org

Call for more information: 844-502-HOPE (4673)