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For six decades methadone maintenance has been an approved treatment for opioid addiction. People who are taking methadone are no different from those who manage their diabetes by taking insulin: they are in recovery. Yet some policymakers—and even some medical, and yes, some addiction authorities—don’t believe it. Although that may change as more and more professionals buy … [Read more...] about From the Publisher—Special Issue on Recovery From Opioid Addiction

Stigma is a common theme among people seeking recovery from the disease of opioid addiction, but it’s particularly poignant for people in medication-assisted treatment (MAT), because stigma can itself prevent recovery from taking place. People who don’t understand MAT—and that’s a big group, including many employers, politicians, and even friends and family members—don’t … [Read more...] about Walter Ginter on the Importance of Peers in Recovery With Medication-Assisted Treatment

Patients and other individuals who are advocates are a growing force in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence, providing information and support to patients as well as assistance to opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Advocates also are an essential link between patients and OTPs. They are not as well known as they should be, there aren’t enough of them, and … [Read more...] about Interview: Zac Talbott on Being a Patient and Certified Advocate for Medication-Assisted Treatment

Over a decade ago, Philadelphia’s public health system moved toward recovery for mental health and addiction services. On the mental health side, there had been a belief that recovery wasn’t possible, especially for people with serious mental illness. On the addiction side, recovery was already in wide parlance, but the system was set up to treat the disorder as if it was … [Read more...] about Recovery Transformation in Philadelphia OTPs: Person-centered, not Patient-centered

It’s ironic—and disappointing—that patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) who join mainstream addiction recovery groups face considerable stigma and daunting obstacles from professionals and from other patients, rather than the helping hand they might reasonably hope for and expect. This became evident in the first in-depth survey detailing the experiences and … [Read more...] about Patients in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Face Obstacles and Stigma When Joining 12-Step Groups