An overview on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence.

In this article, a broad overview of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence has been provided. Significant benefits of commonly used drugs (buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone-based regimens) along with the therapeutic aspects of other available options are highlighted. Salient points on each or individual drug therapy, comparison of pharmacological profiles of dif-ferent drugs, effective clinical practice in different scenarios, relevant drug interactions, and safety issues in various populations have been emphasized. Finally, special issues, such as cost-effectiveness of different medication regimens, community-based approach, dealing with a special population, and upcoming new treatment modalities of MAT have been discussed.