Data from the first large randomized U.S. trial comparing treatment retention of methadone and buprenorphine patients confirm what a Cochrane review—generally considered the Gold Standard—and other studies have found: treatment retention is much higher with methadone than with buprenorphine, although the two are equally effective in suppressing illicit opioid use. The current … [Read more...] about Keeping OTP Patients in Treatment Longer: Methadone vs. Buprenorphine
2013
Meaning and Methadone: A Model for Promoting Adherence in MMT, Based on Patients’ Perceptions
The prevailing dosing model in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) supports adjusting methadone doses downward, based on signs of opioid intoxication, or upward, based on withdrawal signs or patients’ reports of craving or illicit opioid use. But a recent study, carried out at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) and Montefiore Medical Center, suggests that these … [Read more...] about Meaning and Methadone: A Model for Promoting Adherence in MMT, Based on Patients’ Perceptions
In California, a Focus on Getting OTP Patients Enrolled in Medicaid
Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) have many patients—childless adults, mainly men—who have not been eligible for Medicaid. They are self-paying for their treatment. In these weeks before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) takes effect and self-paying patients can be covered under its Medicaid expansion provision, some OTPs are working feverishly to make sure that these patients are … [Read more...] about In California, a Focus on Getting OTP Patients Enrolled in Medicaid
Counselors Are Split On Medication-Assisted Treatment
“How do counselors feel about the role medication plays in the treatment setting? Are they resistant? If yes, why? This was the discussion at an afternoon session of the NAADAC (National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors) conference today. The session, titled “SUD Counselors on the Job: A Bi-Directional Workshop on New Data on Job Satisfaction and … [Read more...] about Counselors Are Split On Medication-Assisted Treatment
From the Publisher: The Story for OTPs This Summer: Health Care Reform
In the summer 2013 issue of AT Forum, one theme keeps coming up—and driving—the story for opioid treatment programs (OTPs). It is health care reform—the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which goes into full-implementation mode in January 2014. Patients are going to be signing up for Medicaid and commercial insurance, which will reimburse OTPs for services as early as October, when … [Read more...] about From the Publisher: The Story for OTPs This Summer: Health Care Reform