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Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Advocacy The National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery (NAMA-R) holds the view that every individual who believes in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is at least a potential Certified MAT Advocate (CMA). We encourage all supporters of MAT, patient and non-patient, to become Certified MAT Advocates so that all energies directed toward the advancement of MAT produce positive results. You do not have to be a patient to be a MAT advocate. Twenty-five Years ago when NAMA-R first started, methadone advocacy was a few committed individuals who all knew one another. When on those rare occasions that a new advocate became active she or he was mentored by a more experienced advocate. A few mistakes were made but the same mistake was seldom made twice. The result of a small tight knit group closely collaborating. MAT Advocacy is no longer a few committed individuals. Hundreds of people with various degrees of skill and knowledge now call themselves MAT Advocates and hundreds more are interested in becoming a Certified MAT Advocate (CMA) if the training is made available. NAMA-R is taking the lead to insure that there is a standard for MAT advocates and to maintain the level of professionalism that is expected from a NAMA-R advocate. It is also important that new MAT advocates have the same opportunities of those that came before them. NAMA-R’s wealth resides with our dedicated advocates who are willing to share their experience with others who also want to make a difference. Therefore, this training course has the potential to make significant changes in MAT by creating a powerful national group of patients and professionals who see themselves as a community that is working towards a common goal. For far to long MAT has been misunderstood and disparaged; it is time for MAT to be recognized as the “Gold Standard” for addiction treatments. MAT Advocate Certification Committee
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