Comments for Addiction Treatment Forum

Comment on Methadone Clinic Wins NIMBY Battle by Nancy Turner

Nancy Turner — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:50:00 +0000

I have been battling the Zoning commissions throughout Cecil County, Maryland for the period of one year to open a program in their area. The county commission literally back dated a zoning standard to state that we must obtain licenses from our federal and state entities BEFORE applying for the zoning permit. They have been given, and are well aware, that those licenses cannot be obtained without FIRST having the building permit. WHEN IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOING TO STEP IN AND STOP THIS. The drug problem is Cecil County is paramount with only one treatment program that is over 500 patients that it can’t handle and approximately 300 on the waiting list. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our state officials have already denied our requests to help, stating it was a LEGAL matter. When the very laws they write, they will not enforce – what are we to do. Millions in legal expenses going out that could be used on fighting the actual problem – ADDICTION.

Comment on Elder Substance Abuse: Be Careful! by Addiction

Addiction — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:26:12 +0000

I can’t get enough of your blog! It’s good to see someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. I’ll be bookmarking!

Comment on Tricare May Soon Cover MAT for Opioid Addiction by Lori

Lori — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:31:37 +0000

I work for an outpatient substance abuse facility and there has been a recent increase of Tricare members inquiring about MAT. I just wonder if Tricare will be limiting the policy for inpatient detoxification only, or if Tricare will allow members to obtain MAT for outpatient services too. This is an issuse for Tricare members, which can not complete an inpatient detoxification program due to certain situations.

Comment on Continuing Medical Education Improves Buprenorphine-Waivered Physicians’ Knowledge and Practice Behaviors by Eric Moore

Eric Moore — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:16:45 +0000

I agree with this article and believe that all Doctors should be watched more carefully. Some Doctors are handing out medications that are very addictive as if it were candy. If you need help here are some more articles that can help.

Comment on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Policy Impact Report: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses by Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD

Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:24:38 +0000

I think that the CDC reports merit closer scrutiny from an evidence-based perspective to assess their accuracy, bias, and fair balance. For example, their data on opioid-related deaths are biased by the fact that there is presently no clear, forensic definition of a death that is “caused” by an opioid agent as opposed to the drug merely being present at the time of death. Many other aspects of the CDC reports could/should be similarly questioned. Futhermore, their use of terms like “painkillers” in reference to analgesic “pain relievers” is unfortunate, and is reminiscent of when “killer drug” was being used in headlines to denigrate methadone. The addiction treatment community should be very concerned by such slanted data and language coming from government agencies.

Comment on Insomnia in Methadone Maintenance Patients Does Not Respond to Trazodone – Research Abstract by Tara A. Strickland-Clabaugh

Tara A. Strickland-Clabaugh — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:34:15 +0000

I read this article and I disagree. I have been on Methadone Maintance for the past 8 years and in just the last 4 years, I have been taking Trazadone for insomnia. I had had really bad sleep problems for quite sometime. I was put on Traxadone, and fpond that I am sleeping alot better and wake up rested and feeling well. I have been taking Trazadone for almost 4 years now, and I am not having any trouble sleeping. I plan to take this article and show it to my therapist, and tell her that I have no intentions on discontinuing my treatment.

Comment on News & Updates – December 2011: Issue 159 by Deb

Deb — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:30:56 +0000

What happened at Houston Treatment Center to make them close the doors?

Comment on ASAM Recognizes Addiction as a Brain Disease, Supporting the Need for Medication-Assisted Treatment by Drug Rehab Utah

Drug Rehab Utah — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:54:48 +0000

Your article has been very inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

Comment on EEOC Sues Employer for Discriminating Against Methadone Patient by Linda Gabriel

Linda Gabriel — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:30:57 +0000

Kudos to the EEOC–now can you help us along the gulf coast as we have international companies who feel they are immune to these regulations.

Comment on FDA Calls for Public Comments on Wider Distribution of Naloxone for Opioid Overdose Fatality Prevention by Kristine Tures

Kristine Tures — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:19:13 +0000

I currently work in Methadone Maintenance Therapy and a Harm Reduction Model facility. This concept of providing naloxone in an unconventional manner is an idea that is long overdue. As we all know Opioid addiction issues have reached epidemic levels, with the younger populations be hardest hit. Individuals are starting out with opiate narcotic pain relievers and then quickly realize the it is easier and cheaper to attain heroin. The potency of heroin is high and many times individuals are using more or with greater frquency, even combining with a benzo which makes for a dealy combination. Providing additional resources or services to the opioid addicted population is needed and desired by the addicts themselves.

Comment on A Good Quality of Life under the Influence of Methadone: A Qualitative Study Among Opiate-Dependent Individuals by A Good Quality of Life under the Influence of Methadone: A Qualitative Study Among Opiate-Dependent Individuals « Substance Abuse Resources for NC Doctors, Nurses, and Other Healthcare Professionals

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:54:23 +0000

[...] To read more, click here. [...]

Comment on Why Primary Care Doctors Are Walking Away From Buprenorphine by Steve Eatenson, BBA, LCDC

Steve Eatenson, BBA, LCDC — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:33:31 +0000

A patient of mine told me they used to, “get high” on Suboxone by crushing it and snorting it. This patient said, “I can’t believe doctors are prescribing the stuff I used to get high on.” This medication is only appropriate for a limited number of patients who are very self-motivated for recovery and who have a history of exhibiting good behavior self-regulation. This can only be assessed by long term familiarity with the patient by an experienced substance abuse practioner.

Comment on Kentucky Heads up Interstate Prescription Drug Task Force by Steve Eatenson, BBA, LCDC

Steve Eatenson, BBA, LCDC — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:17:20 +0000

Rather than going after the substance dependent individuals who are sick and acting in accordance with their disease symptoms, why not target prescribing doctors who are not giving drug screens to patients to see what other drugs they may be taking before prescribing or refilling addictive substances?

Comment on Why Primary Care Doctors Are Walking Away From Buprenorphine by Lisa Cook

Lisa Cook — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:27:11 +0000

The idea that Suboxone without a structured recovery and healing plan would work was hoping that medication itself would be the “cure”. What is obvious to one field (even in medicine) and discipline is not to another. The addiction/recovery based fields must work together with the medical field. Suboxone has been wonderfu in helping people avoiding stigmatization, however, there does need to be a system in place, as flexible as possible, but a structure and system that comes from the wisdom of the addiction/recovery field. Even In this day and age, a pill cannot alone cure this brain disease or the behaviors that arise during the course of the disease and recovery process.

Comment on Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions for Benzodiazepine Abuse Triple by Ira J Marion

Ira J Marion — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:45:06 +0000

I find this article so important. As issues related to morbidity and mortality around methadone swirl and regulatory agencies seek to minimize risk, according to this article, persons with addiction to opioids and benzodiazepines are increasing and still need help. If providers of treatment become so risk aversive that they do not allow these folks into OTP or other medication assisted treatment for fear of overdose during induction, they will have fewer places to turn to for help.

There are multiple strategies available to programs to provide help to these individuals without barring them from treatment with methadone or buprenorphine, including coordination of care between program and prescribing physician, programs prescribing both medications where the need for benzodiazepines has been established and others. Thanks for beginning this dialogue.