TRAVIS COUNTY – A pilot program in Travis County is helping recovering opioid addicts, and has a success rate higher than the national average.

For 34-year-old Ryan Bell, the road to recovery has been years in the making. He started using drugs when he was 16 or 17.

“I had to have a pill every day when I woke up or I didn’t want to live. Now I’m happy to wake up and drink coffee, you know what I mean? Pray and just be connected to the earth,” said Bell.

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During a chance encounter with staff from the Community Care Collaborative, Bell enrolled in the Medication Assisted Therapy program, or MAT.

“What the MAT program offers that is unique is a full integration into a primary care clinic so that we can add the primary care services that so many of these patients require,” said Dr. Nicholas with Yagoda Community Care.

The program tackles addiction on several fronts: medication, behavioral therapy and case management.

“I started taking the medication and I haven’t touched a drug since. It’s been nine months,” said Bell.

The program has recorded 45 patients who are on their way to sobriety.

“I didn’t think there was any hope for me. I thought I’d be addicted for the rest of my life. But I’m not addicted anymore,” said Bell.