Medication-Assisted Treatment Services in Arkansas

To be admitted to a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program, there are several requirements that need to be met:

• Be an adult over the age of 18
• Meet the DSM-5 criteria of opioid use disorder
• Must meet the outpatient standard of care
• Provide a current and valid photo I.D. and not be enrolled in any other opioid treatment programs

The DSM-5 criteria for opioid use disorder are a set of diagnostic criteria used to assess and diagnose individuals with opioid use disorders. In order to meet the criteria for opioid use disorder, an individual must exhibit at least two of the following criteria within a 12-month period:

• Taking opioids in larger amounts or for longer periods of time than intended
• Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control opioid use
• Spending a great deal of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of opioids
• Craving or a strong desire to use opioids
• Continued use of opioids despite persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of opioids
• Recurrent opioid use in situations in which it is physically hazardous
• Continued opioid use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by opioids
• Tolerance, as defined by either a need for markedly increased amounts of opioids to achieve the desired effect or a markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of opioids
• Withdrawal, as manifested by either the characteristic opioid withdrawal syndrome or the use of opioids to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms

The DSM-5 criteria are used to help healthcare providers assess the severity of an individual’s opioid use disorder and develop an appropriate treatment plan. The severity of the disorder is determined by the number of criteria that are met, with mild, moderate, and severe categories based on the number of criteria met.