fluke. an organism of the class trematoda, characterized by a body that is usually flat and often leaflike; flukes can infect the blood, liver, intestines, and lungs.Called also trematode. Flukes are not common in the United States but are a serious problem in many Asian, tropical, and subtropical countries.nother liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, is occasionally found in humans; it causes obstruction of the bile ducts and enlargement of the liver. Blood flukes such as Schistosoma penetrate the skin, make their way to the blood and travel to various parts of the body (see also schistosomiasis).
How Medication-Assisted Treatment Can Help Opioid Addiction. When people become dependent on opioids, they feel sick when there are no opioids in the body. This sickness is known as withdrawal. Along with intense cravings, withdrawal is a hallmark of opioid addiction, and the two combined can make recovery especially difficult. By helping to reduce cravings and withdrawal, medication-assisted treatment can help a person stop thinking constantly about the problem drug.
An important aspect of the opioid epidemic is the lack of treatment options for millions of Americans living in rural communities. We can expand access by engaging primary care practicesâthe places where most rural Americans receive care. Doctors and nurses in these practices are trusted members of the community. They need information and tools to provide effective, evidence-based care for patients with opioid addictions. Medication-Assisted Treatment, or MAT, is evidence-based therapy for assisting people with opioid addiction in primary care offices. MAT involves using both medications and behavioral support to empower people to manage their addiction.