1. Home
  2. Social care and health
  3. Protect someone from harm
  4. Alcohol and drugs
  5. MAT standards for care and treatment of people with a drug problem

MAT standards for care and treatment of people with a drug problem

New standards for services providing medication assisted treatment (MAT) came into force in April 2022 and are being implemented in Angus and across the country.  This will transform the treatment and care of people who have a drug problem across Scotland.

The implementation of the MAT standards will;

  • Make treatment more accessible – reducing barriers to treatment and making treatment immediately accessible by providing medication on the day that people ask for help and ensure there is outreach to people who are not in treatment.
  • Provide choice to people in treatment – reducing treatment-related stigma, providing choice and autonomy to people over treatment decisions.
  • Offer people support – ensuring people can stay in treatment for as long as they want and offer them the support they need.

The 10 MAT Standards

  1. All people accessing services have the option to start MAT from the same day of presentation.
  2. All people are supported to make an informed choice on what medication to use for MAT, and the appropriate dose.
  3. All people at high risk of drug-related harm are proactively identified and offered support to commence or continue MAT.
  4. All people are offered evidence based harm reduction at the point of MAT delivery.
  5. All people will receive support to remain in treatment for as long as requested.
  6. The system that provides MAT is psychologically informed (tier 1); routinely delivers evidence-based low intensity psychosocial interventions (tier 2); and supports individuals to grow social networks.
  7. All people have the option of MAT shared with Primary Care.
  8. All people have access to independent advocacy and support for housing, welfare and income needs.
  9. All people with co-occurring drug use and mental health difficulties can receive mental health care at the point of MAT delivery.
  10. All people receive trauma informed care.

More information

View the MAT Standards - Angus Implementation Plan - Revised Nov 2022

Visit the following websites