With opioid overdoses now killing more people than traffic accidents or HIV infection—more than 45,000 lives were lost to overdoses in 2017—you’d think that most people with opioid use disorder (OUD) could easily access treatment. But that’s not the case. Only a minority receive any substance use treatment, such as counseling or inpatient treatment; even fewer receive … [Read more...] about Trouble Ahead: Shifts in Funding Limit Access to Methadone, Threaten Treatment Expansion
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When There Are Corporate Changes, Patient Treatment Should Continue Without a Hitch
There have been significant changes at Acadia Healthcare Company, which operates many opioid treatment programs (OTPs) among its 600 facilities. Last December, amid reports that the Nashville, Tennessee-based publicly traded company was possibly for sale, Joey Jacobs was fired as CEO and chairman of the board, replaced by Debbie Osteen, formerly with Universal Health Services. … [Read more...] about When There Are Corporate Changes, Patient Treatment Should Continue Without a Hitch
Cannabis and OTPs: What Next?
Not only is cannabis—marijuana—legalized for recreational use in many states; it’s also legal for medical use in even more states, and some states are even suggesting it can be used to treat opioid use disorders (despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting this as an indication). What’s an opioid treatment program (OTP) to do? We talked with one OTP facility in … [Read more...] about Cannabis and OTPs: What Next?
Alcohol: The Elephant In the OTP Room
The world of addiction has a deeply embedded image of the oft-cited elephant in the room: substance use disorder in a family member, a fellow employee, a loved one; bigger than life, but not mentioned. The elephant in the room. For opioid treatment programs (OTPs), the elephant is often alcohol, which, when combined with opioids (including therapeutic methadone or … [Read more...] about Alcohol: The Elephant In the OTP Room
Integrated Care Model in Canada Includes Pharmacy
Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres (CATC), based in Toronto, has over 14,000 patients, 80% of whom are taking methadone. Unlike in the United States, patients in Canada do not have to receive their medication within the treatment center — they can, if they choose, go to an outside (community) pharmacy with a prescription. But in the CATC model, which is probably unique … [Read more...] about Integrated Care Model in Canada Includes Pharmacy
