Why Medication Assisted Treatment Is Necessary For SomeWhy Medication Assisted Treatment Is Necessary For Some
I Love Being Sober
Tim Westbrook talks with clinical pharmacist Taryn Goodballet about Medication Assisted Treatment, explaining how specific medications support people with substance use disorders. The discussion focuses on harm reduction, stigma, and the broader lifestyle and mental health support needed for long-term recovery.
44:31•1 Nov 2022
Why Some People Need Medication Assisted Treatment in Recovery
Episode Overview
- Medication Assisted Treatment can be appropriate for anyone with a diagnosed substance use disorder, depending on their substance history and needs.
- Naltrexone blocks opioid and alcohol effects and cravings, while buprenorphine helps with withdrawal and relapse risk in opioid use disorder.
- MAT is presented as harm reduction and a stabilising tool that can support therapy and lifestyle changes, rather than replacing them.
- Stigma that people on MAT "aren’t really sober" may increase shame and undermine recovery, even when medication is keeping them alive and engaged.
- Integrative support—medications, therapy, diet, and ongoing follow-up after rehab—can help people move toward long-term, joyful sobriety.
“I would love if that stigma of, you know, medication-assisted treatment therapy could just be gone forever so that people who could benefit from it won't hear that and feel like they're not clean.”
How do different strategies aid in addiction recovery? This conversation between host Tim Westbrook and clinical pharmacist Taryn Goodballet zeroes in on Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and why it can be life-saving for some people with substance use disorders. You’ll hear Taryn explain what a PharmD actually is and how her deep training in neuropharmacology feeds into her work in mental health and addiction care.
She shares how growing up around family substance misuse sparked a lifelong curiosity and a drive to be part of the "help" side of the story. The heart of the episode is MAT: naltrexone, buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade, Subutex) and methadone. Taryn breaks down who’s a candidate, how these medications work in the brain, and why they’re framed as harm reduction rather than a shortcut.
She tackles the common criticism that people on Suboxone "aren’t really sober" and counters it with a clear, compassionate point: sometimes the choice is "they take Suboxone or they relapse and die." She also explains newer approaches, like cross-tapering from buprenorphine to naltrexone with low-dose naltrexone and comfort meds, and touches on ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and its role in helping people access therapy more effectively.
Beyond medication, Taryn emphasises the importance of diet, sleep, relationships and therapy as part of a full recovery picture. MAT isn’t portrayed as a magic fix, but as a tool that can stabilise the nervous system enough for someone to engage in real healing work. Her wish is clear: "I would love if that stigma of, you know, medication-assisted treatment therapy could just be gone forever" so people can use every available tool without shame.
If you’re curious about whether MAT might fit into your recovery journey—or someone else’s—this episode offers a grounded, compassionate overview that might help you ask better questions and seek the support you deserve.
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