Suboxone and Methadone Treatment in Jacksonville: A Family Guide to MAT
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) uses approved medicines alongside counseling. This guide explains what buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone do, and how families can find them in Jacksonville.
What medication-assisted treatment is
Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, means using an FDA-approved medicine as part of a full treatment plan. You may also see the term MOUD, which stands for medications for opioid use disorder. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes each of these medicines as one part of a plan that includes counseling and other support.
MAT isn’t its own level of care. It can go along with outpatient rehab, intensive outpatient (IOP), inpatient rehab or care after detox. It is used most for opioid use disorder, and some of the same medicines help with alcohol use disorder too.
Many families have mixed feelings about this. It can sound like swapping one drug for another. SAMHSA says buprenorphine and methadone are safe and effective when taken as prescribed, and that methadone helps people achieve and sustain recovery and reclaim active, meaningful lives. Taking a prescribed dose under medical care isn’t the same as using.
The three main medicines compared
| Buprenorphine (in Suboxone) | Methadone | Naltrexone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Eases withdrawal and cravings. A partial opioid agonist, so its effects are weaker than a full opioid | Reduces craving and withdrawal, and blunts or blocks other opioids. A long-acting full opioid agonist | Blocks the effects of opioids and reduces cravings. It isn’t an opioid |
| Used for | Opioid use disorder | Opioid use disorder | Alcohol use disorder, and opioid use disorder as a long-acting shot |
| Where you get it | Doctor’s office, or a certified opioid treatment program | Only a SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment program, for this use | Any licensed prescriber |
| How it is taken | Set by the prescriber, and may later be every other day | Daily, as a liquid, powder or diskette. Take-home doses may come with stability | A daily pill for alcohol, or a long-acting shot |
| When it can start | After 12 to 24 hours without opioids, in early withdrawal | Set by the program | At least 7 days after short-acting opioids, or 10 to 14 after long-acting ones |
Suboxone, explained
Suboxone is a brand name for buprenorphine combined with naloxone. According to SAMHSA’s buprenorphine page, naloxone is added to lower the chance of misuse. SAMHSA says buprenorphine was the first medicine for opioid use disorder that could be prescribed or dispensed in a doctor’s office, which made treatment far easier to reach.
Timing matters. If someone starts while opioids are still in their system, it can bring on sudden withdrawal. That is why a prescriber plans the first dose. How long someone stays on it is decided person by person, and SAMHSA says that in some cases treatment can be indefinite.
Methadone, explained
To get methadone for opioid use disorder, a person must enroll in an opioid treatment program (OTP), often called a methadone clinic. Early on, that usually means regular visits. According to SAMHSA’s methadone page, patients who are stable may be allowed to take doses at home between visits. Federal rules say OTP patients must be able to receive counseling there, along with medical and other services.
SAMHSA cites the National Institute on Drug Abuse in saying methadone treatment should last at least 12 months, and some people need it long term. Coming off it is done slowly, with a practitioner, to prevent withdrawal.
Naltrexone, explained
Naltrexone works differently. According to SAMHSA’s naltrexone page, it isn’t an opioid and isn’t addictive. For opioid use disorder, only the long-acting shot is FDA-approved. Because a person must wait 7 to 14 days after opioids before starting, it often comes after detox.
For alcohol use disorder, practitioners usually wait until after alcohol detox, and SAMHSA says treatment lasts three to four months. SAMHSA notes that it isn’t recommended for anyone under 18.
Medicines for alcohol use disorder
SAMHSA lists three FDA-approved medicines for alcohol use disorder: acamprosate, disulfiram and naltrexone. Ask a doctor whether one could help. Our guide to alcohol has more.
Staying safe on these medicines
What SAMHSA advises
- Take it exactly as prescribed, and never share it
- Don’t drink alcohol or use sedatives or illegal drugs with methadone or buprenorphine
- Tell every prescriber about all medicines and health conditions
- Store it out of reach of children and pets
What families should know
- Stopping and then using opioids again can be deadly, because tolerance drops. This is also true after naltrexone
- Keep naloxone (Narcan) at home
- If someone may have taken too much, call 911
- If your loved one is pregnant, read our pregnancy guide
This page is general information, not medical advice. Please talk with a doctor before making any change to medications or substance use.
Finding MAT in Jacksonville
Use the listings below as a first step. We only add a center after checking it, so the list may be short. Whichever way you find a program, call and ask:
- Which medicines do you offer: buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone?
- Is the prescriber on site, and how soon can a first visit happen?
- What counseling is included, and how often?
- What is the plan if someone misses a dose or a visit?
- What does my plan cover? See checking insurance benefits.
You can also search FindTreatment.gov, the federal treatment locator, and SAMHSA’s methadone page links to its directory of opioid treatment programs. Ask your loved one’s primary care doctor too, since many can prescribe or refer. For treatment after discharge, see aftercare.
Housing can come up here. Florida law says that since January 1, 2025, a certified recovery residence may not deny someone housing solely because they take a federally approved medicine for a substance use disorder prescribed by an eligible licensed provider. See our page on sober living.
MAT providers near Jacksonville
Free listings, checked against Florida DCF. Sponsored listings are always labeled.
MedMark Treatment Centers Jacksonville
5600 Spring Park Road Suite 101, Jacksonville
Meridian Healthcare (Putnam County Clinic)
3314 Crill Avenue, Palatka
New Season Treatment Center (Duval)
590 Ellis Road South, Jacksonville
New Season Treatment Center (Jacksonville)
4427 Emerson Street Bldg 4, Jacksonville
New Season Treatment Center (Orange Park)
1241 Blanding Boulevard Suite 5, Orange Park
New Season Treatment Center (St. Augustine)
3574 US 1 South Suites 101-104, St. Augustine
North Florida Comprehensive Treatment Center
6639 Southpoint Pkwy Suite 108, Jacksonville
Questions about Suboxone and methadone
Is Suboxone or methadone better?
Neither one is right for everyone. Buprenorphine can be prescribed in a doctor’s office, while methadone for this use comes only from an opioid treatment program. A prescriber can help weigh your loved one’s history and needs.
Is MAT just trading one addiction for another?
SAMHSA says these medicines are safe and effective when taken as prescribed. They are given under medical care as part of a treatment plan with counseling. Many families feel better after talking it through with a prescriber.
How long will my loved one need medication?
It depends on the person. SAMHSA, citing the National Institute on Drug Abuse, says methadone should last at least 12 months. It says buprenorphine length is tailored to each patient and can be indefinite. Any change should be planned with the prescriber.
Can someone take Suboxone during rehab?
Many programs allow it, but not all do. Ask before admission. If a program would make your loved one stop a prescribed medicine, talk with the prescriber before agreeing.
Does insurance pay for MAT?
Coverage depends on the plan, the medicine and the setting. Ask the plan about each medicine you are considering. Our guide to checking insurance benefits lists the questions.