Back in the summer of 1992, we published the premier edition of the Addiction Treatment Forum newsletter. With our next edition, Fall 2011, we’re going exclusively electronic—so this, our 70th newsletter, is the last printed version you’ll receive. And it’s one of our best. We’re excited about going green, going electronic, and keeping pace with the changing times. We’re … [Read more...] about We’re Going Green and Interactive!
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Implementing EHR Systems in OTPs: Potential Roadblocks and Lessons Learned – An Interview with Lawrence S. Brown, Jr, MD, MPH
Despite government incentive programs and a 2014 deadline for establishing a fully electronic health record (EHR) system, most health care transactions continue to be carried out manually, on paper. Among impediments to EHR implementation: Financial—What will it cost? Training—How to prepare employees for advanced technology? Selecting a program—Outside vendors, an in-house … [Read more...] about Implementing EHR Systems in OTPs: Potential Roadblocks and Lessons Learned – An Interview with Lawrence S. Brown, Jr, MD, MPH
Buprenorphine Diversion May Signal Need For More MAT and Greater Oversight
As more buprenorphine is prescribed in physicians’ offices to treat opioid addiction, the potential for diversion and misuse increases. But people buying buprenorphine on the street are not generally doing so for its euphoric effects. Most are taking it because they are dependent on heroin or prescription opioids, or both, and want to prevent withdrawal symptoms between … [Read more...] about Buprenorphine Diversion May Signal Need For More MAT and Greater Oversight
How Methadone Treatment is Funded in OTPs
Over the years AT Forum readers have asked how methadone maintenance (MM) treatment in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) is funded, and why some patients pay for their treatment while others receive it free. The answer depends on the patient’s income and insurance status, the state’s funding scenario, and even the program’s status (profit or not-for-profit). MM treatment is … [Read more...] about How Methadone Treatment is Funded in OTPs
Advocates Help New Moms in Methadone Treatment Fight Child Protective Services
After more than 50 years of evidence showing that methadone maintenance (MM) treatment works, the courts—both civil and criminal—are making decisions only a doctor should make, telling patients to stop taking their legally prescribed methadone. These decisions are coming down particularly hard on women, who in some cases are being told by Child Protective Services (CPS) that … [Read more...] about Advocates Help New Moms in Methadone Treatment Fight Child Protective Services