Bottom line up front: Medication-assisted treatment (buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone) is the evidence-based standard for opioid use disorder — MAT availability and continuity planning should be a primary evaluation criterion for opioid-specific treatment abroad, not an afterthought.
The three main MAT medications
- Buprenorphine — a partial opioid agonist, widely used and available at many international programs
- Methadone — a full opioid agonist, subject to stricter regulatory control varying significantly by country
- Naltrexone — an opioid antagonist, used after detox is complete to reduce relapse risk
Why MAT continuity planning matters as much as availability during treatment
Starting MAT abroad without a clear plan for continuing it domestically after you return creates a genuine care gap — ask specifically how any program plans to bridge MAT continuity with your domestic prescriber before you begin treatment, not after.
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
Free, confidential, 24/7/365 — treatment referral and information service. Also: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
See colombiarehab.co for MAT protocol specifics at Colombia-based programs.
The Takeaway
For opioid use disorder specifically, evaluate MAT availability and continuity planning as a primary criterion — not every program treats this with equal rigor.