MAT is most effective when paired with counseling, not used alone — several of these sources emphasize that pharmacotherapy plus psychosocial treatment outperforms medication by itself. MAT covers three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder — methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone — so I balanced this list between plain-language education, clinical guidelines, and locator tools for finding a prescriber.
1. NIDA — Medications for Opioid Use Disorder — Clear overview of how methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone each work in the brain, and how they differ in access and administration. [nida.nih](https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/medications-opioid-use-disorder)
2. FDA — Information About Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) — The regulatory source of truth on which medications are approved, safety information, and the FDA’s overdose-prevention framework. [fda](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/food-and-drug-administration-overdose-prevention-framework/information-about-medications-opioid-use-disorder-moud)
3. SAMHSA — TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder — The definitive federal clinical guideline (Treatment Improvement Protocol), covering everything from induction to long-term maintenance; free full-text download. [samhsa](https://www.samhsa.gov/resource/ebp/tip-63-medications-opioid-use-disorder)
4. SAMHSA — Buprenorphine Practitioner Locator — Searchable by state, city, or zip code to find prescribers authorized to treat opioid use disorder with buprenorphine. [samhsa](https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/find-treatment/buprenorphine-practitioner-locator)
5. SAMHSA — Buprenorphine Pharmacy Lookup — Helps patients find pharmacies that actually stock and dispense buprenorphine, which can be a real access barrier even after finding a prescriber. [samhsa](https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/find-treatment/pharmacist-lookup)
6. SAMHSA — Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) Directory — Locator specifically for federally certified methadone clinics, since methadone can only be dispensed through licensed OTPs, not regular doctor’s offices ([SAMHSA](https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/locators/opioid-treatment-program-directory)).
7. CDC — Opioid Use Disorder: Treating — Clinical-care overview distinguishing office-based buprenorphine/naltrexone prescribing from OTP-based methadone/buprenorphine dosing. [cdc](https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/hcp/clinical-care/opioid-use-disorder-treating.html)
8. ASAM — Opioid Addiction Treatment: A Patient’s Guide — Written for patients and families by the American Society of Addiction Medicine; explains the three medication options in plain terms to help with informed decision-making. [asam](https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/publications/asam-opioid-patient-piece_-5bopt2-5d_3d.pdf)
9. Vivitrol — Find a Provider Near You — Manufacturer-run locator for prescribers of extended-release naltrexone (Vivitrol), used for both opioid and alcohol use disorder. [vivitrol](https://www.vivitrol.com/alcohol-dependence/find-a-provider)
10. NAABT (National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment) — TreatmentMatch — Longstanding 501(c)(3) nonprofit that anonymously matches patients with buprenorphine-prescribing physicians who have current openings, useful when the public locator (item 4) turns up doctors who aren’t accepting new patients. [naabt](https://www.naabt.org/index.cfm)
