Addiction Treatment Forum

Cannabis for OUD: Not so Fast, Politicians
ATForum Newsletter Volume 30, #6 October/November, 2019

by Alison Knopf Politicians like the idea of cannabis as a way to cure society’s opioid ills. It’s popular (almost everyone in health care, including many opioid treatment programs [OTPs], supports marijuana legalization). Whatever is popular with the people usually is popular with politicians.
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Review Article: Methadone Legend Dr. Kreek on Opioid Addiction Treatment
ATForum Newsletter Volume 30, #6 October/November, 2019

by Barbara Goodheart, ELS Almost exactly a half-year ago we highlighted an excellent review article on opioid use disorder (OUD) by Drs. Carlos Blanco and Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (https://atforum.com/?s=blanco+and+volkow+review). Now we’re featuring another review article from another legend in the field: Mary Jeanne Kreek, MD, who heads the […]
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Telehealth Offers Best Opportunity for Treatment Expansion
ATForum Newsletter Volume 30, #6 October/November, 2019

by Alison Knopf There is great interest in telehealth in all of health care, including treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). One of the trickiest aspects of telehealth, however, is that the delivery of medication involves very concrete mechanical requirements. You can’t send a medication to a patient by video. In the case of methadone, […]
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AATOD Conference Recap: ‘Out of the Shadows’
ATForum Newsletter Volume 30, #6 October/November, 2019

by Alison Knopf There were more than 1,800 attendees at the 2019 conference of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD), held October 19-23 at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. Why was it memorable? Yes, it was Disney. Yes, the exhibit hall was splendid. And yes, the awards banquet was […]
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New Face of Criminal Justice: Welcoming MAT
ATForum Newsletter Volume 30, #6 October/November, 2019

by Alison Knopf There is a growing partnership between corrections/criminal justice and treatment for substance use disorder (SUD)—especially, treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). For example, the Florida Association of Drug Court Professionals sent its staff to the conference of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD). “This is a favorable move,” […]
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Mobile Vans a Hot Topic at AATOD–And Now
ATForum Newsletter Volume 30, #6 October/November, 2019

by Alison Knopf The open board meeting is the traditional opening work-sleeves session at the conference of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD). It’s held Saturday, the first day of the five-day conference. It’s a chance for the newly arrived attendees to get their bearings after traveling, and to hear from […]
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Report: Why OUD Statistics Continue to Worsen, and What OTPs Can Do to Help 
ATForum Newsletter Volume 30, #6 October/November, 2019

by Barbara Goodheart, ELS The statistics tell the story: Rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) and its consequences continue to rise. Yet we have effective treatments: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. And data show that effective treatment reduces not only opioid use, but overdose deaths, and other consequences of opioid misuse. Moreover, we have opioid treatment […]
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Top Honors at AATOD Award Ceremony Go to Gilbert Gerra, MD; Zachary Talbott
ATForum Newsletter Volume 30, #6 October/November, 2019

by Alison Knopf The crowning glory for many attendees of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) is the award banquet. Not only is it a glamorous affair, at which women wear long gowns (if they choose) and glittery jewels, the food sumptuous and live music encouraging people to talk—but it is […]
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