Vivitrol is a monthly extended-release injection of naltrexone — a medication that blocks opioid receptors and reduces alcohol reward. It's one of the cleanest MAT options for opioid and alcohol use disorder: no abuse potential, no daily medication-management burden, no opioid-like effects. RECO Intensive integrates Vivitrol into recovery for clients whose clinical picture fits.
What Vivitrol treatment looks like at RECO Intensive
Our psychiatric provider assesses fit during the first week. Vivitrol requires that clients be opioid-free for 7-10 days before the first injection (precipitated withdrawal otherwise). For appropriate clients, the first injection is administered during residential or PHP-level care, with subsequent monthly injections through discharge and into aftercare.
What Vivitrol does clinically
- Blocks opioid receptors for ~28 days per injection — opioids produce no high while it's active
- Reduces alcohol reward — many clients describe drinking as "less interesting" while on Vivitrol
- No abuse potential — naltrexone is not a controlled substance
- No daily medication burden — one injection per month
- Strong evidence base for both opioid and alcohol use disorder
Vivitrol vs. Suboxone vs. naltrexone-by-mouth
Suboxone (buprenorphine) is a partial opioid agonist — it produces some opioid effects and prevents withdrawal. Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist — it blocks receptors entirely. Suboxone often works better for clients with severe ongoing cravings; Vivitrol works better for clients seeking a clean break with no opioid-like medication.
Oral naltrexone is the same compound as Vivitrol but in daily pill form — useful for clients who can't access Vivitrol or want to start with oral before transitioning. Our psychiatric provider walks through the options with you.
Who Vivitrol serves best
Opioid use disorder clients who are opioid-free (post-detox) and want non-opioid MAT. Alcohol use disorder clients wanting reduction in reward and craving. Clients who can't use buprenorphine for clinical or career reasons. Clients in highly accountable contexts (professional health programs, monitored recovery) where Vivitrol's structure helps. Clients who prefer monthly over daily medication.
How Vivitrol integrates with the rest of treatment
Vivitrol is one tool in a coordinated treatment plan — therapy, family work, alumni community, and ongoing psychiatric care continue alongside. Vivitrol doesn't replace recovery work; it makes the recovery work more accessible by reducing craving pressure.
Why RECO's Vivitrol program is different
Many programs are still ideologically resistant to MAT or offer only Suboxone. We offer the full MAT spectrum — Vivitrol, Suboxone, oral naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram — and the choice is clinical, not ideological. Real evidence-based medication-assisted recovery.