The purpose of IMAT is to help people with opioid use disorder improve their quality of life (OUD). Buprenorphine has been shown to aid in the treatment of OUD since it is safe, promotes treatment adherence, and minimizes the risk of abuse and overdose. MaineHealth practices, including Maine Behavioral Healthcare, aim to provide comprehensive medication and therapy services to eligible patients to aid in the recovery from substance use disorders, the development of skills to sustain recovery, and the improvement of mental health and physical and functional wellbeing.

Only physicians who have undergone Drug Enforcement Agency/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (DEA/SAMHSA) training and hold DEA waivers are permitted to prescribe buprenorphine in any treatment setting under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) of 2000.