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The draft accreditation guidelines for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) released last spring (see AT Forum July 19, 2013) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are still going through the review process within the federal government, and will be out no later than next April, AT Forum has learned. “We have gotten a lot of comments, and we’ve … [Read more...] about SAMHSA Accreditation Guidelines for Opioid Treatment Programs: Final Version Out Within a Year

Working closely with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), The Joint Commission has revised several standards for Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) accreditation. For The Joint Commission to be allowed to accredit OTPs, accreditation standards must be in alignment with SAMHSA’s regulations and guidelines. The Joint Commission, to keep up with … [Read more...] about The Joint Commission Issues Revised Standards for Opioid Treatment Programs

When the federal government said in December of 2012 that opioid treatment programs (OTPs) can dispense take-home doses of buprenorphine with fewer restrictions than are placed on take-home doses for methadone—in particular, no waiting period (http://atforum.com/2013/02/otps-can-now-dispense-buprenorphine-take-homes-with-no-waiting-periods/), there was an expectation that … [Read more...] about Providing Buprenorphine in an Opioid Treatment Program: Challenges and Opportunities

In recent years the safety of methadone has been questioned by data indicating a large rise in the number of methadone-associated overdose deaths occurring at the same time as a marked increase in methadone use to treat chronic pain. Between 2008 and 2011, several medical groups issued methadone safety guidelines to address the increased mortality. Published in BMJ Supportive … [Read more...] about New Methadone Safety Guidelines Published for Opioid Addiction and Chronic Pain Management

As of July 1, a pregnant woman who gives birth in Tennessee to a baby who has neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a transient and easily treatable condition, could be arrested for assault. Many women in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are likely to deliver a baby with NAS, so the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) and the state chapter worked … [Read more...] about Tennessee Law Puts Pregnant Women on Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction in Danger of Arrest