Abstinence/sobriety or harm reduction?

I work in treatment and I'm in recovery which means I have a constant battle with the model of medical assisted treatment in recovery. My belief is that it's not truly clean and sober to be on drugs and in order to be fuly free means to be without mind altering substances. On the other hand I have met a few chronic addicts that can NOT stay sober and keep ODing, I believe that their lives have been saved by MAT. Ive also seen that people on suboxone/methadone have a difficult time actually getting to the core of their issues while on the medication, it dulls the emotions and makes it difficult to look within and do the work on ones self, as well as the fact that 12 step groups dont typically count MAT as sober/clean which can hinder their ability to get a sponsor and work the steps. Back to the other side, I have seen people go from deaths door to alive again. I do think their is a place for MAT in recovery I just struggle with the idea that it's a life long medication (many doctors are comfortable with prescribing it for as long as the patient wants it. I've known people on methadone for 20 years). Do you think think the long term goal should be harm reduction (which means being on suboxone/methadone) or sobriety/recovery/abstinence?

For anyone who is interested more in the subject I highly suggest Russell Brands movie, From Addiction To Recovery (I used to not be able to stand Russell Brand but this movie made me change my mind quite a bit on him)