MAT Success Rates: What the Latest Research Shows
MAT success rates depend on the outcome being measured. Medication-assisted treatment, now often called medications for opioid use disorder or MOUD, can be evaluated through several outcomes: treatment retention, reduced opioid use, overdose prevention, survival, and improved daily functioning. Federal guidance recognizes medication plus counseling as a whole-patient approach that can improve survival, increase treatment retention, reduce illicit opioid use, and support recovery.[5]
The latest MAT treatment outcomes data show a consistent pattern: people receiving evidence-based medication are more likely to remain engaged in care and less likely to die from an opioid overdose than people who don’t receive medication. However, the exact results vary by medication, patient population, treatment setting, follow-up period, and how researchers define success.
MAT Success Rates by Outcome
The following medication assisted treatment statistics come from recent U.S. and international studies.
| Outcome | Recent research | What the finding shows |
| 30-day opioid abstinence | In an 18-month U.S. outpatient cohort, reported abstinence from prescription opioids, heroin, or illicit fentanyl increased from 55% at baseline to 77% at 18 months among survey respondents [1] | Abstinence improved over time among people receiving outpatient OUD treatment, although the study wasn’t designed as a randomized comparison |
| Reported overdose | In the same cohort, the percentage reporting an opioid-related overdose in the previous 90 days declined from 7% at baseline to 2% during follow-up [1] | Overdose reports were lower later in the observation period |
| Opioid-related emergency department use | Reported opioid-related emergency department visits declined from 9% before enrollment to 4% at 18 months [1] | Treatment was associated with lower emergency care use over the study period |
| Six-month retention on prescribed buprenorphine | In a nationally representative sample of commercially insured U.S. adults, 49.5% remained on sublingual buprenorphine at six months, compared with 13.5% who remained on extended-release buprenorphine [2] | Treatment formulation and prescribing patterns can affect retention |
| Treatment discontinuation within 24 months | Among first-time treatment recipients, 81.5% of methadone patients and 88.8% of buprenorphine/naloxone patients discontinued treatment within 24 months [3] | Methadone was associated with longer retention in this population-level study |
| Six-month retention among pregnant individuals | 43.1% with MOUD compared with 28.9% without MOUD across 29,981 treatment episodes [4] | MOUD was associated with higher six-month retention in this population |
The first study followed 1,974 adults receiving outpatient OUD treatment at 62 facilities. Participants received methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, or counseling without medication. The study collected information on substance use, overdose, emergency care, employment, health status, and other outcomes over 18 months.[1]
Because it was an observational study, the results don’t prove that medication alone caused every improvement. Patients may also have benefited from counseling, medical monitoring, peer support, changes in living conditions, or other services. Still, the findings show why MAT treatment outcomes data should include several measures instead of focusing on abstinence alone.
Methadone Treatment Success Rate vs. Buprenorphine Outcomes
Methadone and buprenorphine are both evidence-based medications for OUD. They reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but they differ in how they work, where patients receive them, and how long patients remain on treatment.
| Comparison point | Methadone | Buprenorphine |
| Retention | In a 2024 population-level study, 81.5% discontinued within 24 months | In the same study, 88.8% of buprenorphine/naloxone patients discontinued within 24 months [3] |
| Mortality while receiving treatment | 0.13% among first-time treatment recipients in the 24-month study | 0.08% among first-time treatment recipients; the study found no clear difference in mortality between medications [3] |
| Effect on opioid use | Can reduce cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and illicit opioid use when properly dosed | Can reduce cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and illicit opioid use when properly dosed |
| Treatment setting | In the United States, methadone for OUD is provided through approved opioid treatment programs | Buprenorphine can be prescribed by qualified medical providers in a broader range of settings |
| Access considerations | Daily or frequent clinic visits may be required, especially early in treatment | Office-based treatment and telehealth options may provide more flexibility in some circumstances |
| Best measure of success | Retention, reduced opioid use, lower overdose risk, and improved daily stability | Retention, reduced opioid use, lower overdose risk, and improved daily stability |
NIDA reports that methadone and buprenorphine can be equally effective at helping people reduce opioid use. Methadone may help some patients remain in treatment longer, while buprenorphine can offer more flexible access for many patients.[5]
The recent comparative study found that mortality was low during treatment with either medication. Among first-time treatment recipients, mortality while receiving treatment was 0.13% for methadone and 0.08% for buprenorphine/naloxone. The researchers concluded that the mortality risk was similar between medications, even though methadone was associated with longer retention.[3]
These findings don’t mean that methadone is the right choice for every patient. The best medication depends on a person’s treatment history, withdrawal symptoms, cravings, health conditions, access to care, daily responsibilities, and preferences. A qualified clinician can help determine which option is safest and most practical.
What the Research Says About Treatment Success
The latest addiction treatment success rates point to a broader definition of recovery. Treatment can be successful when it helps a person stay alive, remain connected to care, reduce opioid use, avoid emergency treatment, and regain stability in daily life.
SAMHSA describes medication plus counseling and behavioral therapies as a whole-patient approach. Its reported benefits include improved survival, greater treatment retention, reduced illicit opioid use, and improved ability to gain and maintain employment.[6]
For patients, progress may manifest as fewer cravings, more consistent routines, safer medication use, improved health, renewed family relationships, or continued participation in treatment. These outcomes can develop at different speeds, and a treatment plan can change as a person’s needs shift.
The research also shows why retention deserves special attention. Longer treatment consistently gives patients more time to stabilize physically, address mental health and trauma, develop coping tools, and connect with practical support. When treatment becomes difficult to access, patients may face interruptions that increase the risk of returning to opioid use or experiencing an overdose.
A landmark NIH-funded study of 17,568 adults who survived a nonfatal opioid overdose found that opioid overdose deaths during the following year were 59% lower among people receiving methadone and 38% lower among those receiving buprenorphine, compared with people who received no medication.[7] The study used data from Massachusetts between 2012 and 2014, so it isn’t a current national success rate, but it remains important evidence that beginning medication after an overdose can save lives.
The clearest takeaway is that MAT success is best understood through multiple outcomes. Retention, opioid use, overdose prevention, emergency care, health, employment, and quality of life all help show whether treatment is working.
Getting Compassionate MAT Support in Baltimore
The Caring Clinics provides outpatient medication-assisted treatment for adults living with opioid use disorder. Its approach combines medication, counseling, clinical support, and practical guidance in a respectful, judgment-free environment.
If you’re looking for MAT in the Baltimore area, contact The Caring Clinics at (443) 313-8475 to learn more about available treatment options.
This article is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Medication decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare professional.
Last updated: October 2026
Sources
[1] Dever, Jill A., et al. “The Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Study: Methods and Initial Outcomes From an 18-Month Study of Patients in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.” Public Health Reports, published January 25, 2024. Study data collected from August 2017 through May 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11284976/
[2] Ivasiy, Roman, et al. “Retention and Dropout From Sublingual and Extended-Release Buprenorphine Treatment: A Comparative Analysis of Data From a Nationally Representative Sample of Commercially Insured People With Opioid Use Disorder in the United States.” International Journal of Drug Policy, published February 27, 2025. Study cohort based on U.S. claims data from 2019 through 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12045481/
[3] Nosyk, Bohdan, et al. “Buprenorphine/Naloxone vs Methadone for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder.” JAMA, 2024;332(21):1822-1831. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2825088
[4] Ganetsky, Valerie S., Noa Krawczyk, and Alene Kennedy-Hendricks. “Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Treatment Retention Among Pregnant Individuals.” JAMA Network Open, published April 21, 2025. Study data covered treatment episodes from 2015 through 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12013350/
[5] National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Medications for Opioid Use Disorder.” National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/medications-opioid-use-disorder
[6] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Treatment Options for Substance Use Disorder.” https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options
[7] National Institutes of Health. “Methadone and Buprenorphine Reduce Risk of Death After Opioid Overdose.” Published June 19, 2018. Study data covered Massachusetts adults who survived an opioid overdose between 2012 and 2014. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/methadone-buprenorphine-reduce-risk-death-after-opioid-overdose