Twenty years ago, AT Forum published an interview with Vincent P. Dole, MD, about his vision for methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). The interview was full of hope that methadone treatment would be better accepted in coming years. Dr. Dole’s hope was that the younger generation of physicians would be better educated about MMT, easing access to treatment and doing away with … [Read more...] about Retrospective: Vincent Dole Would Be Disappointed In the Stigma MMT Patients Face Today
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SAMHSA Awards $11 Million in Grants to Treat Opioid Use Disorders
In late July the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced which 11 states were the winners of about $1 million each in grant funding to expand treatment for opioid use disorders. The Targeted Capacity Expansion grants are going to the single state agencies (SSAs) with authority over the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block … [Read more...] about SAMHSA Awards $11 Million in Grants to Treat Opioid Use Disorders
To Reduce Opioid Treatment Program Legal Liability, Practice Good Medicine— And Document It
If your patient tests positive for illicit drugs while in treatment at your opioid treatment program (OTP), you need to take steps—and document those steps—to avert that patient’s unhealthy behavior. If you don’t, and the patient gets in an accident, and someone is injured, you are liable—even if the injured person is the patient himself or herself. That’s the lesson that … [Read more...] about To Reduce Opioid Treatment Program Legal Liability, Practice Good Medicine— And Document It
ASAM Guideline Shows What It Takes To Treat Opioid Use Disorders: Medications and Support
In May, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) issued a practice guideline on medications for treating opioid use disorders. Meant to guide clinicians in prescribing pharmacotherapies—methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, and extended release naltrexone—the 170-page guideline is an important contribution to the field. Along with the Treatment Research Institute, … [Read more...] about ASAM Guideline Shows What It Takes To Treat Opioid Use Disorders: Medications and Support
Don’t Ignore Benzodiazepines in the Opioid Epidemic: Massachusetts
In April of 2014, Richard D. Lewis posted “Opiates and benzos: A deadly cocktail of drugs” on southcoasttoday.com. South Coast is the southern coastal region of Massachusetts. The article showed clearly that it is benzodiazepines combined with opioids, not opioids alone, that are causing many overdose deaths. Mr. Lewis updated that article in an August 2 post, again on … [Read more...] about Don’t Ignore Benzodiazepines in the Opioid Epidemic: Massachusetts
