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Addiction Treatment Forum

Addiction Treatment Forum

Addiction Treatment Forum reports on substance use news of interest to opioid treatment programs and patients in medication-assisted treatment.

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Newsletter

2023

Email from Staats-Combs to Clanton Mayor, Chilton County law enforcement

January 20, 2023

 For almost thirty years, I have diligently been working to help Alabama with the Opioid crisis….

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NIMBY in full force in Alabama

January 19, 2023

This story should be subtitled “Still crazy in Alabama.” Here’s this report from Susan Staats -Combs, owner…

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Next steps for OTPs: Three executives on their vision for the future

January 12, 2023

Moving forward in 2023, with a huge proposed rulemaking change for opioid treatment programs (OTPs)…

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New kind of OTP: Integrated treatment with medications and more under one roof

January 7, 2023

Last month in New York, a new kind of opioid treatment program (OTP) opened. It…

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2022

Massive spending bill includes huge changes for SUD field: No more x-waiver, increases for treatment

December 23, 2022

Some people called it “something for everyone.” Others just said “at last.” The spending bill…

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SAMHSA proposal to update methadone regulations: Welcome news for OTPs and patients

December 19, 2022

On December 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Substance Abuse and…

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Lived Experience: A Refreshing New Voice

December 16, 2022

There’s a refreshing new voice in the addiction field—a voice that doesn’t always sing the…

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AMERSA report OTP medical director discusses possibility of psychosis as a result of rapid methadone taper

December 7, 2022

At last month’s annual meeting of AMERSA, a standing-room-only workshop gave a close-up look at…

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methadone

First-of-a-kind OTP census shows vast majority of patients treated with methadone

December 5, 2022

Today an extraordinary project conducted by the National Association for State Alcohol and Drug Abuse…

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Benzodiazepines

Study: OTP Retention Unaffected by Benzodiazepines

December 1, 2022

In the setting of open-access opioid treatment programs (OTPs), the authors of this study in…

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OTPs facing increasing pressure from supporters of OTAA

November 22, 2022

The Opioid Treatment Access Act (OTAA) would allow non-opioid-treatment-provider (OTP) physicians with training in addiction to…

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Part 3: Methadone in Rhode Island corrections, the psychology of working with another discipline

November 21, 2022

Getting methadone in prison: It takes work When a correctional system entertains the idea of…

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Mythbusting on AATOD and methadone/buprenorphine bills

November 10, 2022

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) and Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs)…

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Report from AATOD: Rhode Island and corrections, Part 2

November 7, 2022

RIDOC medical director on reaching out to corrections staff on methadone and buprenorphine Corrections staff…

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Sonara: A digitized label for methadone take-homes

November 4, 2022

A remote tracking system to maximize methadone take-homes may hold promise for the future of…

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Awards at AATOD: Patient Advocacy and More

November 3, 2022

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) recognized contributions to treatment for…

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Report from AATOD: 5 years of success in Rhode Island corrections

November 2, 2022

Medications for OUD in corrections: Tips from Linda Hurley, leader of CODAC Many changes have…

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Report from AATOD SOR in Maryland: Part 3 Moving ahead toward SOR III in Maryland: Sustainability

November 1, 2022

While everyone hopes with “fingers crossed” that each iteration of the State Opioid Response (SOR)…

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AATOD Report: How data helps Maryland (Part 2) “Keeper of the data” shows how SOR is being used

November 1, 2022

James T. Yoe, director of the Office of Applied Research and Evaluation at the Maryland…

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AATOD report: SOR in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

October 31, 2022

Using peers and crisis stabilization sites to address opioid overdoses The three rounds of the…

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AATOD’s Upcoming Conference: Much Interest From Field

October 21, 2022

The 2022 conference of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence is coming…

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New funds for CODAC expansion and first responders training in RI

October 12, 2022

Lawmakers announced last month a new $750,000 “earmark” (designation of funds for a specific purpose)…

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Awards from SAMHSA: Treatment for people with SUDs at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS

October 12, 2022

On September 29, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced $45.1 million…

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FDA paves the way for harm reduction organizations to bulk-buy naloxone, thereby lowering the price

September 27, 2022

On August 30 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced the agency’s Overdose Prevention Framework,…

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Commentary: Experts Call for OTP Help in the Fentanyl Crisis

September 26, 2022

A decade ago. fentanyl, the white powder that closely resembles heroin, hit the illicit drug…

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Study finds reduced overdose risk with expansion of telehealth under COVID-19

September 24, 2022

Expanding telehealth for treatment of opioid use disorder was associated with a reduced risk of…

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Former SAMHSA official on methadone alone

September 14, 2022

With all of the discussion about methadone by pharmacies, methadone by increased take-homes, and methadone…

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Methadone reform has gone beyond debate to proposed legislation, SAMHSA rule changes

September 13, 2022

If there’s any question that the proposed legislation entitled the Opioid Treatment Access Act (OTAA)…

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Medicaid audits in NY challenged by COMPA and other behavioral healthcare providers

September 7, 2022

A broad range of health care providers and consumers asked New York State Governor Kathy…

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AATOD president on anti-OTP bias in some media outlets

August 23, 2022

There are some “news” articles which appear to be written with a heavy bias against…

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Personalized methadone dispensing device for take-homes receives NIDA grant

August 22, 2022

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Berkshire Biomedical Awarded $266,000 to support continued…

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New report calls for federal agencies to reduce restrictions on methadone

August 17, 2022

A report from the George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center released August 11 calls for…

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Methadone, buprenorphine, gabapentin used nonmedically: Study

August 17, 2022

A recent study has found that gabapentin is being used nonmedically in conjunction with nonmedical…

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telehealth

Despite rule changes, access problems to buprenorphine via telehealth persist

August 16, 2022

Interviewees told researchers that although they wanted to access buprenorphine via telehealth, they couldn’t, mainly…

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Higher doses of methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone called for in fentanyl era

August 10, 2022

An August 7 story by NBC news entitled “Once feared, illicit fentanyl is now a…

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New methadone van from CODAC: First approved under new DEA rules

August 9, 2022

CODAC Behavioral Healthcare has a new methadone van. The van, the first approved in the…

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Study: Peer Caregivers Help Patients Counteract Stigma Barrier

August 2, 2022

Many patients seeking help for a health-related crisis are relieved to learn that their new…

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Liberalized take-homes did not result in increase in OD deaths

July 27, 2022

A new report based on death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…

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Methadone reform in NY: Part 2

July 21, 2022

The big news in NY is methadone in prisons, but who will bid? Attendees of…

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Methadone reform in NY: Part 1

July 13, 2022

COMPA symposium highlights issues of concern to NY OTPs on brink of expansion Methadone reform…

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nerve cell (neuron)

Study: Long-term Abstinence Restores Impaired Brain Function and Structure in Patients With Heroin Use Disorder, but Questions Remain

June 24, 2022

When Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, attributed his investigative success to “the little…

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DOJ Issues Guidance Underscoring ADA Protections for People Taking Methadone or Buprenorphine

June 8, 2022

The federal Department of Justice has ordered repeatedly that people in treatment or recovery on…

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Expanding Access to Methadone Treatment

June 8, 2022

A recent article based on the two-day methadone workshop by the National Academies of Science,…

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AATOD: No Pharmacy Dispensing of Methadone, Except for Stable Patients Currently in OTPs

May 24, 2022

In a policy document on “Methadone Reform” updated this spring by the American Association for…

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Why 8 Milligrams of Naloxone Should be Given in all Opioid ODS, STAT: Fentanyl

May 24, 2022

In the era of illicit fentanyl, multiple doses of naloxone are sometimes needed to reverse…

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Study: “Just Give Them a Choice!”—What Patients Think About Starting Buprenorphine or Methadone in the ED

May 24, 2022

Emergency department (ED) clinicians could start patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) on the road…

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APA Meeting to Feature New President Discussing Buprenorphine

May 23, 2022

The American Psychiatric Association annual meeting, gathering live for the first time since 2019, will…

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On track for major changes: SAMHSA programs

May 22, 2022

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is in the middle of a…

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Mobile methadone in New York

April 29, 2022

The unrolling story of methadone vans in New York is being enthusiastically assisted by Allegra…

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Many SUD bills under consideration by Congress

April 28, 2022

This month, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee conducted a hearing focusing19 bills, most…

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Study: Low-Barrier-to-Treatment-Access Programs Help Patients Experiencing Homelessness Enter MMT and Stay in Treatment

April 18, 2022

Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) experiencing homelessness face an increased risk of opioid overdose…

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NY announces reimbursement for methadone vans

March 30, 2022

Last week Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced the availability of up to $1…

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SAMHSA issues guidance on take-home flexibility extensions

March 30, 2022

The Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration (SAMHSA) this month (March 2022) issued guidance on…

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methadone

NASEM meeting on methadone focused on how to expand access using primary care 

March 21, 2022

On March 3-4, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) hosted a workshop on…

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2021

Longtime NY SOTA Retiring, Puryear Moving to Position

December 21, 2021

The post occupied by Belinda Greenfield, Ph.D., as New York’s Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA) for…

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Norcross to Introduce Bill to ‘Modernize’ Methadone Treatment

December 21, 2021

With much support from many – but not the American Association for the Treatment of…

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“No Home to Take Methadone to”: Study Reveals Inequities in Addiction Care

December 17, 2021

Key inequities in addiction care could be managed by correcting shortcomings uncovered in a recent…

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SAMHSA Continues Relaxed Take-Homes

November 23, 2021

Relaxed take-home rules for methadone patients were announced in March 2020 as a result of…

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Harm Reduction Proponent, Medical Doctor Nominated to Head OASAS

November 15, 2021

For the first time in recent history, New York is slated to have a medical…

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Methadone Induction for Inpatients: Working with OTPs, but Stabilizing Quickly

November 4, 2021

Many hospital-based physicians are not comfortable with methadone, although they are very comfortable with morphine…

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STUDY: OUD Disclosure Can Be Helpful, or Devastating; Study Participants Offer Advice

October 21, 2021

Stigma—negative beliefs and misperceptions, based on misinformation or lack of information—has long plagued people with…

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ONDCP on CDC’s Latest OD Data

October 18, 2021

On October 13 the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released provisional death…

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AATOD Calls for OTP Reforms, Including Relaxing Rules

October 5, 2021

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) is recommending that federal regulators…

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REVIEW ARTICLE: How Long Should OAT Last? A Month? A Year? Or…Forever?

October 4, 2021

The review article summarized here delves into a timely question: How long should treatment for…

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How an Online Interview Can Help Programs Monitor Patient Progress, Identify Problems

September 24, 2021

Patients in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) may have other conditions that need treatment,…

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Helping SUD Providers Help Diverse Patients: Race, Incarceration, Pain, PTSD

September 24, 2021

Race: In “Can You See Us? Providing Culturally Competent Treatment for Persons of Color,” presenters…

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STUDY: Do Health Care Costs and Service Usage Increase When Prisoners Are Treated for OUD, Then Released?

September 16, 2021

With the risk of fatal overdose at least ten times higher in released prisoners than…

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The Need for Medications and Psychotherapy in Treatment

September 15, 2021

“I said I will never work for anyone who just makes you throw pills at…

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methadone

Details on How to Use Methadone Vehicles: Two OTPs’ Experience

September 3, 2021

Two treatment providers with many years’ experience using mobile methadone outlined their lessons learned and…

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SAMHSA Okays Use of SAPT Block Grant to Procure Methadone Vans from For-Profits

August 18, 2021
SAMHSA-letter-to-post-on-mobile-vans
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Kloxxado: Nasal Spray Naloxone Launched

August 16, 2021

Kloxxado, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April for treatment of opioid overdose…

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STUDY: “Is MAT Cost Effective?” Answer: A Resounding “Yes!”

August 16, 2021

We’ve long known that opioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant cause of morbidity and…

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SAMHSA Issues New and Revised TIP 63 on Medications to Treat OUD

August 12, 2021

Last week, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a new Treatment…

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AATOD Sponsors August 11 Webinar: “How-to” on Mobile Methadone

August 10, 2021

The new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations allowing brick-and-mortar opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to dispense…

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Legal Action Center Report Warns Hospitals of Legal Liability for Failing to Care for OUDs

July 23, 2021

Hospital emergency departments (EDs) risk legal liability by not referring patients to treatment with methadone…

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ONDCP director nominated: It’s Gupta

July 15, 2021

West Virginia doesn’t have a stellar history when it comes to treating opioid use disorder….

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Scoping Review: Interim Methadone Services Can Offer a Lifesaving Hand When Someone Desperately Needs Help

July 13, 2021

When someone with an opioid use disorder (OUD) seeks help at a busy opioid treatment…

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DEA Okays Methadone Vans if Operated by OTPs

July 8, 2021

As of July 28, licensed opioid treatment programs (OTPs) can operate vans which dispense methadone….

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emergency department

When emergency departments make referrals, are they sending them to treatment?

June 29, 2021

Emergency departments have long been able to give patients methadone to treat opioid use disorder…

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telehealth

Methadone treatment reform: A middle ground?

June 29, 2021

There are many bills and proposals which would loosen up treatment with methadone or buprenorphine….

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NSM to AATOD Board: Be Proactive to Avoid Big Professional Liability Claims

June 16, 2021

Krista Mayes, director of the addiction treatment provider program of NSM insurance, group, talked recently…

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Two Studies Describe Differences in OTP Responses to COVID-19: What Can We Learn?

June 9, 2021

In these pages of Addiction Treatment Forum we feature two studies describing experiences at opioid…

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FDA Approves Higher Dosage of Naloxone Nasal Spray

June 2, 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a higher dose naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray…

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OTP Clinicians’ Responses to Telemedicine and Changes in Methadone Service Delivery During COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

May 26, 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid treatment programs (OTPs) have been given some flexibility in dispensing…

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Reimagining Patient Care: Bronx OTPs Share Lessons Learned During COVID-19

April 27, 2021

When COVID-19 forced Bronx opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to change the way they operated, the…

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Community Medical Services Reaches Out To Harm Reduction

April 22, 2021

Community Medical Services (CMS), which opened two new opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in Wisconsin and…

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Flaws In Idea Of Expanding Access To Methadone Via FQHCs And Chain Pharmacy

April 21, 2021

A recent study hypothesized that distribution of methadone in Ohio via Federally Qualified Health Centers…

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New OTP in Tennessee Opens

April 19, 2021

The Talbott Legacy Centers (TLC) announced the opening of a new opioid treatment program (OTP)…

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X-waiver Changes Progressing Through Congress Amid Some Concerns From OTPs And Patients

April 19, 2021

Three bills going through Congress would change the way buprenorphine treatment is delivered, mainly eliminating…

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Mass. Sheriff And R.I. OTP Work Together To Provide Treatment During Pandemic

April 19, 2021

The Hampden County (Massachusetts) Sheriff is helping men and women with opioid use disorder (OUD)…

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Women with OUD Are at Risk for Poor Reproductive and Sexual Health Outcomes; OTP Staff and Providers Suggest Effective Interventions

March 3, 2021

Women with opioid use disorder (OUD) face many challenges, among them the risk of poor…

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How to Attend AATOD

March 1, 2021

AATOD’s Las Vegas conference will be virtual, but still fun. Attendees at the April conference…

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Vaccines and PPE for OTP Patients And Staff: A Work In Progress, Still

February 12, 2021

Writing in the “Points of View” section of the New England Journal of Medicine in…

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Extended Take-homes: More Good News in New York

February 12, 2021

Extended Take-homes: More Good News in New York The expansion of methadone take-homes was highlighted…

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Study Report: Implementing Open Access in OTPs; A Good Idea? Counselors Share Their Thoughts and Experiences

January 25, 2021

Let’s say you’re a counselor in an opioid treatment program (OTP), and your methadone maintenance…

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2020

Update on Washington and OTPs for end of 2020

December 21, 2020

End of year activities in Washington, D.C. are full of important messages for opioid treatment…

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Generic Buprenex

December 21, 2020

One of the public health concerns about prescription opioids, including for pain, is diversion, but…

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Proposed bills would infuse opioid use disorder treatment with new funds

November 24, 2020

Two bills passed by Congress and heading to the Senate would be very helpful to…

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To Mallinckrodt: Thank you from AT Forum

October 20, 2020

We all want to thank Mallinckrodt for almost 30 years of support. This wonderful company…

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CODAC Works With BH Link For Behavioral Health 24/7 Urgent Care

October 9, 2020

Rhode Island supported the development of Behavioral Health Link, BH Link, a 24-7 urgent care…

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Study: COVID-19 Threatens the Incarcerated With Loss of Life-Saving OAT Treatment

September 29, 2020

For people with opioid use disorder (OUD), getting into or staying in an opioid agonist…

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Why OTPs Need To Stay In The Mix: The Shatterproof Yelp-like Pilot

September 28, 2020

When Shatterproof launched its new ATLAS (Addiction Treatment Locator, Assessment, and Standards Platform) project, funded…

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New OTPs In Tennessee, Where Medicaid Now Covers Methadone/OTP

September 3, 2020

This summer, the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency (HSDA) granted a Certificate of Need…

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Pinnacle Ceo On Aegis Acquisition 2 Months Before Covid Hit

August 19, 2020

When Pinnacle Treatment Centers acquired California-based Aegis Treatment Centers this year, it gained 10,000 patients…

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Can Jail-Based MMT Lower Costs and Help Prevent Recidivism?

August 17, 2020

Jail-based methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) sounds great in theory, but it’s rarely implemented. Yet opioid…

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Extended Methadone Take-homes During COVID: Nothing But Success

July 8, 2020

Since March, when the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) relaxed rules for…

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STUDY: Saving Lives by Launching Buprenorphine Treatment in the ED: What Clinicians Need to Know

July 8, 2020

It’s a scene that’s repeated countless times every day across the U.S. Siren blaring, an…

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STUDY: Is ACA Medicaid Expansion Fueling the Opioid Epidemic, or Is It Saving Lives?

June 12, 2020

This is such an important question to resolve! Especially now, with more than a dozen…

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How Stavros 24-7 Clinics Handle the Pandemic

May 27, 2020

When the pandemic hit the epicenter of New York City in mid-March, Nicholas Stavros’ 24-7…

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How the North Carolina SOTA Responded to the Pandemic

May 27, 2020

When the pandemic hit full force in mid-March, the State Opioid Treatment Authorities (SOTAs) had…

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STUDY: Risk Factors EDs Can Use to Identify Patients With Substance-Related Encounters Who Are at High Risk of Fatal Opioid ODs

May 14, 2020

Lacking alternative resources, many people with substance use disorders (SUDs) visit emergency departments (EDs), especially…

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New Georgia OTP Takes Patients and Deals With the Pandemic

April 30, 2020

Gateway Treatment Centers in Ellijay, Georgia, opened January 7—just a few weeks before the pandemic…

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AATOD Concerns about Harm Reduction Initiative During Pandemic

April 15, 2020

During the week of April 6, a sign-on letter circulating in the harm reduction and…

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Provisions in CARES Act Affecting OTPs

April 2, 2020

The CARES Act revises 42 CFR Part 2 (confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records)…

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Study Report: Pharmacy-Based Methadone Distribution

April 2, 2020

Eight investigators from medical centers in the U.S. and Canada recently looked into methadone access…

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OTP Regulations Loosened Due to Pandemic

March 26, 2020

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) that dispense methadone got a fast and clear release from regulations…

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AATOD Releases Guidance for OTPs on coronavirus/COVID-19

March 25, 2020

Make sure you have enough medication. Follow infectious disease protocols. Protect your workforce and patients….

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COVID-19 Resources

March 17, 2020

https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/medication_assisted/telemedicine-dea-guidance.pdf https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/covid-19-guidance-otp https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/otp-guidance-20200316.pdf https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sample-otp-covid-19-faqs.pdf https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2020/03/covid-19-potential-implications-individuals-substance-use-disorders https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/tips-social-distancing-quarantine-isolation-031620.pdf https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/032520%20Title-By-Title%20Summary%20FINAL.pdf

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DEA Proposes Mobile Methadone at Last

March 2, 2020

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has published its long-awaited proposal for opioid treatment programs…

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Buprenorphine Effectively Treats OUD, But Most Patients Quit Treatment Too Early—Risking Relapse, Overdose, and Other Potentially Fatal Events

February 25, 2020

Here’s something most people in the field know: buprenorphine treatment lowers the risk of overdose…

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Explaining Quality of Care in New Jersey, as State Looks at More Regulations for OBOTs

February 25, 2020

“We’re penalized because we’re so highly regulated and there is little or no oversight over…

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methadone

Study Favors Better Insurance Reimbursement for Methadone Maintenance

February 25, 2020

The problem of methadone underuse isn’t new—but the authors of a recently published paper offer…

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Surprise Speaker at NYSAM Focuses on Advantages of Comprehensive Care

February 25, 2020

The surprise speaker was Mark W. Parrino, MPA, president of the American Association for the…

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Incarcerated People Are Entitled to Medications for Their OUD; So Why Aren’t They Getting Them?

February 25, 2020

There’s no question that opioid use disorder (OUD) is extremely common in incarcerated people. And…

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Introducing Steve Woolworth, New Evergreen CEO

February 25, 2020

Steve Woolworth, PhD, the new CEO of Evergreen Treatment Services, has big shoes to fill….

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Three Separate Programs Under One OTP Umbrella at Behavioral Health Group

February 25, 2020

In Colorado, some opioid treatment programs (OTPs) governed by federal methadone regulations are combining the…

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Lawmakers Urge DEA to Move on Mobile Vans, Telemedicine

February 25, 2020

Congress is getting annoyed with the stalling by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on mobile…

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2019

AATOD Conference Recap: ‘Out of the Shadows’

December 9, 2019

There were more than 1,800 attendees at the 2019 conference of the American Association for…

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Top Honors at AATOD Award Ceremony Go to Gilbert Gerra, MD; Zachary Talbott

December 9, 2019

The crowning glory for many attendees of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid…

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Mobile Vans a Hot Topic at AATOD–And Now

December 9, 2019

The open board meeting is the traditional opening work-sleeves session at the conference of the…

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Telehealth Offers Best Opportunity for Treatment Expansion

December 9, 2019

There is great interest in telehealth in all of health care, including treatment for opioid…

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New Face of Criminal Justice: Welcoming MAT

December 9, 2019

There is a growing partnership between corrections/criminal justice and treatment for substance use disorder (SUD)—especially,…

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Cannabis for OUD: Not so Fast, Politicians

December 9, 2019

Politicians like the idea of cannabis as a way to cure society’s opioid ills. It’s…

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Report: Why OUD Statistics Continue to Worsen, and What OTPs Can Do to Help 

December 9, 2019

The statistics tell the story: Rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) and its consequences continue…

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Review Article: Methadone Legend Dr. Kreek on Opioid Addiction Treatment

December 9, 2019

Mary Jeanne Kreek, MD Almost exactly a half-year ago we highlighted…

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When Early Dropout From Opioid Agonist Therapy Seems Likely, Identifying Problems and Taking Action May Help Keep Patients in Treatment

October 11, 2019

Too often, patients drop out early from opioid agonist therapy and lose the many benefits…

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Vermont's Hub and Spoke System

Vermonters Speak Out About MOUD in the State’s Hub-and-Spoke System

October 11, 2019

Vermonters didn’t hesitate when recently asked to share their opinions about the state’s hub-and-spoke (H…

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Relative Costs and Benefits of Methadone vs. Buprenorphine in OUD

October 11, 2019

It’s generally accepted that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with methadone or buprenorphine is more effective than…

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COMPA Members Use Telemedicine in Clinical Trial to Assess Hepatitis C Management in Methadone-Maintained Patients

October 11, 2019

Twelve opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in New York State are participating in a $7 million…

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AATOD Concerned About SAMHSA Proposal to Drop PDMP Restriction

October 11, 2019

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) is concerned about recent initiatives…

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Providers Oppose Allowing Law Enforcement Access to Patient Records

October 11, 2019

Now that all the comments are in and counted, the votes are clearly against allowing…

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AATOD Conference 2019

AATOD Conference: Out of the Shadows and the Continuum of Care

October 11, 2019

AATOD Conference: Out of the Shadows and the Continuum of Care Every 18 months the…

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CMS Proposes Rates for Medicare Reimbursement for OTPs

October 11, 2019

The federal government’s approval of Medicare reimbursement for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) was a huge…

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addiction treatment

NIMBY Doesn’t Affect Only OTPs

October 11, 2019

Even buprenorphine treatment programs are being chased out of town—at least, if the towns have…

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prison cell

CODAC To Provide Induction for MAT in Massachusetts Prisons

October 11, 2019

In another move toward expansion of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in correctional settings, CODAC Behavioral…

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Rural Areas Have the Longest Drive Times for OTPs

October 11, 2019

It should come as no surprise that rural areas have longer drive times to opioid…

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security, privacy

AATOD, NAMA Concerned About Law Enforcement Threats to Patient Confidentiality

September 12, 2019

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) is concerned about recent initiatives…

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methadone

SAMHSA Proposes Putting Methadone Information Into PDMPs

August 23, 2019

In the long-awaited rulemaking amending 42 CFR Part 2, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health…

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Why Patients With OUDs and Co-Occurring Mental Illness May Have a Better Chance in an OTP Than in Other Treatments

August 7, 2019

When a patient with an opioid use disorder (OUD) fails to respond to treatment—despite the…

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methadone

He Wanted to Live, But He Chose to Die—To Access Methadone

August 7, 2019

In a report published in the July issue of Health Affairs, addiction specialist Jessica L….

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Add ASAM to “X the x-waiver” Movement

August 7, 2019

For months, the position of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) on the move…

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Buprenorphine a Focus of AMA Opioid Task Force

August 7, 2019

A report out from the American Medical Association (AMA) this summer recommends closing the treatment…

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Methadone Now Allowed in Upstate NY Prison, If Inmates Come From Rikers OTP First

August 7, 2019

A new program in New York has finally made it possible for methadone patients in…

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Role of Counseling in OTPs

August 7, 2019

Many people have questions about the role of counseling in methadone maintenance treatment, sometimes suggesting…

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OTP Responds to Shooting at Baltimore Clinic Across the Street

August 7, 2019

Two people died after a shooting at the highly respected Man Alive opioid treatment program…

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Susan Caille Emerson

Susan Caille Emerson, 1951–2019

June 4, 2019

We have lost our publisher, Sue Emerson. It happened on April 18, following a short…

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Review Article: NIDA Experts Dr. Blanco and Dr. Volkow on Opioid Use Disorder

June 4, 2019

A new review paper by Carlos Blanco, MD, PhD, and Nora Volkow, MD, nicely summarizes…

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medicaid

Study: Medicaid Expansion Under ACA Can Increase Access to OAT—But Better Access May Be Within Reach

June 4, 2019

When Medicaid expansion was enacted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expectations were that patients…

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42 CFR Part 2 Still Under Threat

June 4, 2019

Despite years of attempting to do away with the regulation that protects the confidentiality of…

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Keeping All Three OUD Medications in Congress’ Eye

June 4, 2019

The key to keeping methadone and opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the sights of appropriators…

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OTPs, Profit, and Not-for-Profit: What’s the Fuss About?

June 4, 2019

Does for-profit status connote anything at all about the quality of treatment, about how well…

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Medicare Part D Insurers Are Making the Opioid Crisis Even Worse: It’s Much Tougher Now to Prescribe Buprenorphine, Easier to Prescribe Opioids

April 7, 2019

Almost 90% of Medicare Part D insurance companies covered at least one buprenorphine product without…

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Prior Authorizations of OUD Medications Are at Times Dangerous, and May Violate Federal Parity Laws; the SUPPORT Act Fails to Help

April 7, 2019

The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act—the massive piece of legislation signed into law on…

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Increasing Access to MAT: What Is the Role of Harm Reduction?

April 7, 2019

There are moves—important and funded ones—to support the expansion of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), but those…

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Expanding OTPs Into Corrections in Maryland

April 7, 2019

One of the most important initiatives occurring in methadone treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs)…

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Corrections: Big Focus for OTPs

April 7, 2019

As authorities start recognizing the need to treat opioid-dependent detainees in jails and prisons, rather…

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CMS and SAMHSA Visit OTPs in Preparation for Bundled Rate for OTPs

April 7, 2019

The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental…

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methadone

Trouble Ahead: Shifts in Funding Limit Access to Methadone, Threaten Treatment Expansion

February 21, 2019

With opioid overdoses now killing more people than traffic accidents or HIV infection—more than 45,000…

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When There Are Corporate Changes, Patient Treatment Should Continue Without a Hitch

February 21, 2019

There have been significant changes at Acadia Healthcare Company, which operates many opioid treatment programs…

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Cannabis and OTPs: What Next?

February 21, 2019

Not only is cannabis—marijuana—legalized for recreational use in many states; it’s also legal for medical…

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Alcohol: The Elephant In the OTP Room

February 21, 2019

The world of addiction has a deeply embedded image of the oft-cited elephant in the…

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Integrated Care Model in Canada Includes Pharmacy

February 21, 2019

Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres (CATC), based in Toronto, has over 14,000 patients, 80% of whom…

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Field Loses Pioneer and ‘Honorary Patient’ Tom Payte

February 21, 2019

Tom Payte James Thomas Payte, MD, died January 22 at the…

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children

The Shocking Facts About Opioid Deaths in the Very Young

January 18, 2019

Yale researchers have uncovered startling data about the number of children and adolescents (younger than…

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The “Three-Day Rule” Needs To Be Extended to Allow Longer Treatment With Methadone or Buprenorphine

January 18, 2019

In 2017, Gail Groves Scott, MPH, manager of the Substance Use Disorders Institute at the…

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How OTPs Can Help Pain Patients With OUDS: SAMHSA

January 18, 2019

Can opioid treatment programs (OTPs) help pain patients who no longer need opioids for pain?…

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confidential

42 CFR Part 2 Still a Target for 2019

January 18, 2019

Perhaps the best example of what can happen to loss of confidentiality is the story…

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In-House, On-Site Pharmacy Provides Convenience and Minimizes Stigma, Enhancing Retention

January 18, 2019

In opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the United States, all pharmacy is “in-house,” meaning that…

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2018

Loretta Finnegan

MATER Center Director, on the Importance of Dr. Finnegan’s Work—Which Continues—and the Need to Treat Mothers for Trauma

December 17, 2018

Loretta Finnegan Loretta Finnegan, MD, a champion of medication-assisted treatment with…

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Opportunities for Partnership Between OTPs and Prisons, Jails

December 17, 2018

Although the general attitude toward methadone and buprenorphine is not favorable on the part of…

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Caught in Chaos—When Pregnant Women With OUD Are Incarcerated; How OTPs Can Help

December 17, 2018

Case Report This is the story of a young woman with a 15-year history of…

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DEA’s Foot-Dragging on Mobile Vans Gets Worse

December 17, 2018

More than two years ago, just before Donald Trump was elected president, Demetra Ashley, associate…

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AATOD Policy Paper Looks at Methadone and Buprenorphine, OTPs and DATA 2000 Practices

December 17, 2018

In a far-reaching policy paper to be published next year, a draft copy of which…

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Most Important Aspect of Congress’ Opioid Bill: Medicare for OTPs

November 5, 2018

The 660-page opioid bill that passed Congress and was signed October 24 by President Trump…

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confidential

42 CFR Part 2: It’s Still Under Threat, Misunderstood; But OTP Patients Need It!

November 5, 2018

42 CFR Part 2 protects the privacy of patient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records….

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When OTP Patients Face Surgical Pain, OTP and Surgical Staff Work Together to Help

November 5, 2018

Health care teams are brought up short when they see the words opioid use disorder…

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Toolkit Helps Women State Legislators With Opioid Bills

November 5, 2018

Healthy Women, a group that has been active for 30 years, is expanding its work…

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In Memoriam: Bob Newman

November 5, 2018

I spent hours visiting with Robert Newman, MD, beloved methadone advocate, over the past 30…

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Challenges to Hiring and Retaining Good Workers in OTPs

October 3, 2018

As the opioid crisis continues, opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are going to face big challenges…

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BAART Sues California City Over NIMBY Blocking Of Clinic

October 3, 2018

This summer, Bay Area Addiction Research and Treatment (BAART) sued the city of Concord, California…

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Study: Lack of Nearby OTPs Puts Methadone Patients at  Risk of Early Death

October 3, 2018

Under federal law, newly enrolled methadone patients must attend a methadone program six days a…

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Expanding OTP Access In California, Where Waiting Lists Are Not Used

October 3, 2018

California technically doesn’t have waiting lists for opioid treatment programs (OTPs). When a program is…

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HHS Supportive of MAT Prescribing by Nurse Anesthetists, Midwives

September 27, 2018

“Nurse anesthetists can give any drug in the [operating room]; they put you under; and…

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Opioid Bills in Congress: Focus on Medicare and OTPs – Updated August 25, 2018

September 4, 2018

As the Senate gets ready to vote on opioid legislation, advocates urge people to contact…

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confidential

42 CFR Part 2 Faces Tough Going in Congress

September 4, 2018

When the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6082 last June methadone patients worried that…

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How New York Uses Its STR Funds to Enhance Treatment

September 4, 2018

To use its more than $50 million in funding from the State Targeted Response (STR)…

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As the NAS Crisis Worsens, a New Study Offers Treatment Guidelines

September 4, 2018

The incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has been climbing steadily, according to a 2016…

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Research Report: In Appalachia, Pregnant Women With OUD Encounter Barriers to Treatment

September 4, 2018

Appalachia is an area long known for beautiful scenery, coal mining, and devastating poverty. And…

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West Virginia Leads the Nation With Its Opioid Problems; But Could Change Be Coming?

September 4, 2018

It’s a lovely state, nestled in the tree-covered Appalachian mountains—but West Virginia, the state hardest…

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Opioid Bills in the Senate: Focus on Medicare and OTPs

August 6, 2018

By Alison Knopf “I don’t think there’s a single legislator who isn’t interested” in passing…

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law books, gavel, scales

Drug Use During Pregnancy Is Not Child Abuse: Experts Weigh in On Pennsylvania Court Decision

July 20, 2018

“The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is considering whether a pregnant woman’s use of illegal drugs qualifies…

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medicaid

Has the Medicaid Expansion Issue Finally Been Settled? If so, What’s the Best Way to Make Expansion Work?

June 18, 2018

Much has been written about the impact of Medicaid expansion on the opioid crisis and…

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buprenorphine

SAMHSA Gives No Information on How Many Patients Are on Buprenorphine or How Well They Are Doing

June 18, 2018

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) must submit a plethora of information on their services to the…

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Profiles of Today’s OTP Leaders

June 18, 2018

Plenty of opioid treatment program executives are leaders in the field, but their names don’t…

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Ann Jamieson

Ann Jamieson

June 18, 2018

Ann Jamieson, MS, aged 46, is the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Professional Development…

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Jason Kletter

Jason Kletter

June 18, 2018

Jason Kletter, PhD, aged 47, is the President of BayMark Health Services, where he has…

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Robert C. Lambert

Robert C. Lambert

June 18, 2018

Robert C. Lambert, MA, aged 54, president and executive director of Connecticut Counseling Centers, Inc.,…

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Christine Martin

Christine Martin

June 18, 2018

Christine Martin, LMFT, CACII, aged 35, is director of clinical services for Center for Behavioral…

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Stacey Pearce

Stacey Pearce

June 18, 2018

Stacey Pearce, aged 43, Chief Compliance Officer at Alliance Recovery Centers, in Georgia, started working…

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Allegra Schorr

Allegra Schorr

June 18, 2018

Allegra Schorr, aged 56, is president of the Coalition of Medication-Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates…

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Nick Stavros

Nick Stavros

June 18, 2018

Nick Stavros, age 39, CEO of Community Medical Services, presided over the recent sale of…

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Zac Talbott

Zac Talbott

June 18, 2018

Zachary C. Talbott (“Zac”), aged 35, a native of Tennessee, is administrator and program director…

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States Are Legalizing Nonprescription Syringe Sales in Pharmacies; How Well Is That Working?

June 18, 2018

Nonprescription sales of syringes in pharmacies are being met with some enthusiasm, some resistance, and…

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Methadone Patients Don’t Feel “Disabled,” But They Do Have a Protected “Disability” Under the ADA

June 18, 2018

Patients in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)….

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OTPs in Florida: Needs-Assessment Changes Underway

June 18, 2018

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed HB 21 in March, providing more than $65 million to…

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New York map

AATOD Conference Recap: Field Has Funding, Now Needs Infrastructure

April 17, 2018

There were more than 2,000 attendees at the 2018 conference of the American Association for…

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Dr. McCance-Katz

An Interview With Dr. McCance-Katz On Importance of Medications and Psychosocial Treatment

April 17, 2018

Elinore F. McCance-Katz, MD, PhD Elinore F. McCance-Katz, MD, PhD, assistant…

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Department of Justice Tells State Attorney General: ADA Protects People On MAT

April 17, 2018

For the first time ever, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has sent a letter to…

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security, privacy

With “Open-Access,” Methadone Treatment Can Increase Patient Census and Eliminate Waiting Lists: Research

April 17, 2018

In a study of “open access” treatment with methadone maintenance, reducing barriers to treatment led…

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MAT During Incarceration Reduces Overdose Deaths

April 17, 2018

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder provided to incarcerated individuals sharply reduced overdose deaths…

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MOTHER Study Babies Thrive at Three Years; AT Forum Talks With Lead Authors

April 17, 2018

It’s long been known that medication-assisted treatment (MAT), with adequate doses of methadone or buprenorphine,…

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When Mom Is Better Than Morphine: Shorten Stay and Decrease Costs For Babies With Methadone-Related NAS

April 17, 2018

When Loretta Finnegan, MD, a champion of medication-assisted treatment with methadone, developed her famous scoring…

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White House Wants Americans To Share Addiction Stories On New Website

April 6, 2018

“Could a new website serve as a way to bring attention to the opioid crisis? The White…

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Dr. Jana Burson Blog: Guest Dosing at Opioid Treatment Programs

March 26, 2018

“Guest dose unto others as you would have others guest dose unto you.” I think…

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Attorney General Sessions Announces DEA Surge to Combat Prescription Drug Diversion

February 11, 2018

  “Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced yesterday that, over the next 45 days, the Drug…

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AATOD Board Meeting Features Visits With Lawmakers, ONDCP, DEA, and SAMHSA

February 11, 2018

The annual board meeting last December of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid…

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California Moving Forward on Hub and Spoke, Care Teams

February 11, 2018

California has embraced the hub-and-spoke concept in implementing its State Targeted Response (STR) to the…

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Vermont Hub-and-Spoke Evaluation: No Opioid Overdoses, and a Sharp Drop—96%—in Opioid Use

February 11, 2018

The hubs—OTPs—treat patients who have been assessed as needing the OTP level of care. These…

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How OTPs Can Help Reduce Stigma: The Boston Experience

February 11, 2018

Boston is not the only city with a powerful push by academics and providers for…

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Research Report: Getting More Methadone Patients Into HCV Treatment

February 11, 2018

Here’s an eye-catching statistic: only about 3% of the world’s population is infected with hepatitis…

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Moving Ahead on Methadone in Corrections

February 11, 2018

People who get incarcerated—in prisons or jails—tend to be people with more advanced addiction. If…

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Poll: Americans Consider the Opioid Crisis a Major Problem—but Not a National Emergency

February 11, 2018

Results of Seven Merged National Polls, 2016 and 2017, New England Journal of Medicine –…

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2017

AT Forum Turns 25: Reporting on Opioid Use Disorders and Medication-Assisted Treatment

December 13, 2017

For a quarter-century AT Forum has served as a source of support and encouragement for…

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Health Care Uncertainty Leaves Questions for OTPs; Self-Pay May Continue

December 13, 2017

In one respect, opioid treatment programs (OTPs) have an advantage over most areas of health…

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Opioid STR Grant Funding Formula Stays in Effect for Year 2

December 13, 2017

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that the funding formula for…

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24/7 Access to OTPs Opened in Arizona With Federal STR Funds

December 13, 2017

Arizona is using some of its Opioid STR (State Targeted Response) money, granted under the…

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Older Adults with Opioid Use Disorders—The Forgotten Generation

December 13, 2017

They’ve been called a “growing and understudied population”—people who need treatment, yet find it hard…

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Need for Medicare Reimbursement for OTPs Cited in DC Briefing

December 13, 2017

Senior citizens are not immune from opioid use disorders (OUDs), but Medicare does not cover…

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FDA: Keep Patients on Methadone or Buprenorphine, Even if They Test Positive for Benzodiazepines

December 13, 2017

The practice of ending treatment if patients test positive for benzodiazepines was discouraged in no…

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How President Trump’s Opioid Commission Supports OTPs and Comprehensive Treatment

December 13, 2017

On November 1, the White House released the long-awaited final report on the President’s Commission…

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“Adolescent Opioid-Related Deaths are Soaring…”— An Update

December 13, 2017

An article in our August-September newsletter on the rise in adolescent opioid-related deaths included recommendations…

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NIDA Launches Tools for Assessing Adolescents’ Risk of Opioid Use Disorder, Opening the Door to Medication-Assisted Treatment

December 13, 2017

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has launched two online screening tools—BSTAD and S2BI—to…

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Still Under a Moratorium, OTPs in West Virginia Finally Get Medicaid Payments

December 13, 2017

Last fall, West Virginia got its Medicaid 1115 waiver approved, allowing, among other things, Medicaid…

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AATOD Releases Recommendations on Siting OTPs in Era of Growth

October 24, 2017

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) has released recommendations on siting…

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FDA Says Benzodiazepine Use Not a Bar to Treatment With Methadone or Buprenorphine for Opioid Addiction 

October 24, 2017

Citing the harms of untreated opioid use disorders, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…

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It’s Official: Heroin Is Once Again More Popular Than Rx Opioids

October 24, 2017

Many health professionals have suspected it for a while, and now it’s official: a study…

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Study Reveals Surprising Results: White Patients in OUD Treatment Are Significantly Less Likely to Receive Methadone or Buprenorphine

October 24, 2017

This was a study of specialty treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs) in publicly funded…

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Adolescent Opioid-Related Deaths Are Soaring; We Can’t Wait “Until Things Get Worse”!

October 24, 2017

In September of last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a policy statement…

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SAMHSA Issues Brief Update on Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment

October 24, 2017

This update from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports trends in…

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OTP Leader Ed Higgins Leaves Legacy for the Field

October 24, 2017

Longtime methadone and opioid treatment program (OTP) advocate and professional Edward J. Higgins died peacefully…

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Expect Opioid STR Grant Money to Be Scrutinized After One Year

August 11, 2017

Of the $1 billion in federal grants going out to states in 2017 and 2018…

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Community Medical Services in Arizona: Working with Corrections, Drug Courts

August 11, 2017

It has become clear that many people with opioid use disorders (OUDs) end up in…

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Policies Limiting Rx Opioids Aren’t Working; It’s Time to Expand MAT and Evaluate Other Options

August 11, 2017

Prescription opioids are still getting much of the blame for the current opioid overdose crisis,…

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Aegis Telehealth Makes Buprenorphine Treatment More Convenient for Patients

August 11, 2017

Imagine opioid treatment program (OTP) patients being able to get counseling and prescriptions from their…

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Buprenorphine Reimbursement in OTPs Advances in California

August 11, 2017

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) still use methadone as their main medication, especially in states where…

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Mobile Vans for OTPs: Getting Closer to Reality

August 11, 2017

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is not yet ready to talk about mobile vans. The…

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Faces & Voices of Recovery Honors Two OTP Leaders

August 11, 2017

Mary Jeanne Kreek, MD At its July 17 “America Honors Recovery”…

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Fentanyl Analogues Not Resistant to Narcan® (Naloxone)

August 2, 2017

“Contrary to recent news reporting, there are no fentanyl analogues resistant to Naloxone. News reports…

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Rapid Growth in Medicaid Spending on Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose

August 2, 2017

“This brief gives policymakers and the public perspective on the scope of potential Medicaid spending…

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Number of OTPs Tops 1,500 For First Time Ever

June 2, 2017

For the first time in the history of opioid treatment programs (OTPs)–federally regulated clinics that…

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Amid Beltway Disarray, Field Sees Bright Spot in McCance-Katz Nomination

June 2, 2017

President Trump, along with Republican members of Congress, is calling for a repeal of the…

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AATOD, Acadia, and 433 Others Protest Health Care Bill as Destructive to Opioid Treatment

June 2, 2017

President Trump promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and although it took some…

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SAMHSA Issues Opioid STR Grants

June 2, 2017

On April 19, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the first…

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Research Results: Lowering the Risks of Death for Patients Receiving Methadone or Buprenorphine

June 2, 2017

Evidence is growing that two key factors help determine the risks of death in patients…

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Poll: The Public Speaks Out About Opioid Misuse 

June 2, 2017

Results of a Poll Released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) -May 1, 2017 To…

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Report from NASADAD – ONDCP to State Directors: Increase Access to Treatment 

June 2, 2017

Single state authorities (SSAs) are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. They’re in…

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When Facing NIMBY, Be Transparent: The Lesson From Buffalo, NY

June 2, 2017

Not in my back yard (NIMBY)—that’s how to best describe the feeling in local neighborhoods…

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AATOD Issues Five-Year Plan: Bottom Line Focus Is Still on Stigma

April 13, 2017

The five-year plan of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) has…

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Study: Benzodiazepines + Prescription Opioids = Caution Needed!

April 13, 2017

Benzodiazepines help patients cope with severe anxiety, panic disorder, or sleep problems; prescription opioids can…

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California Will Use Cures Act $80 Million To Expand Treatment With Hub-And-Spoke System

April 13, 2017

The Cures Act, signed in December 2016 by President Obama, gave $920 million over a…

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SAMHSA Develops MAPS Project to Determine Where OTPs Are Needed

April 13, 2017

The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) has been hard at work determining…

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Buprenorphine Dispensing Problems in Virginia: Coal Country Rules

April 13, 2017

The Virginia Board of Medicine, backed by the state, has banned the use of buprenorphine…

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Why Women Use—and Misuse—Opioids

April 13, 2017

How different are women from men, when it comes to using—and misusing—opioids? More different than…

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Tennessee Bill Would Place Full Liability on OTPs for Car Accidents

April 13, 2017

A bill winding its way through the Tennessee legislature would make opioid treatment programs (OTPs)…

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Mobile Vans: Not Ready for Prime Time

April 13, 2017

Yes, there are regulations in preparation to address the use of mobile vans to dispense…

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AATOD Issues Benzodiazepine Guidelines

April 13, 2017

On April 6, the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) released its…

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Final Rule For 42 CFR Part 2 Retains Core Confidentiality Protections

February 13, 2017

The final rule on 42 CFR Part 2, issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental…

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AATOD’s Goal of Doubling Number of OTPs Has Strong SAMHSA Support

February 13, 2017

Over the next three years, the number of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the country…

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$1 Billion for Opioids from Cures Act, but ACA Repeal Could Undercut the Benefits

February 13, 2017

 In December, the 21st Century Cures Act was signed by President Obama, providing $1 billion…

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Legal Action Center: Free Toolkit Will Help Challenge Criminal Justice and Child Welfare Agencies Who Require Patients to Stop Taking Methadone and Other Medication-Assisted Treatment

February 13, 2017

A new toolkit from the Legal Action Center can help patients, especially those taking methadone,…

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Research Results: Opioid Agonist Treatment Versus Detoxification in Lowering the Costs of Crime

February 13, 2017

A recent study compared opioid agonist treatment (OAT) and detoxification in patients with opioid use…

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Virginians Vote: Support Treatment—Not Jail—For Drug Users*

February 13, 2017

Treatment, not jail time—that’s what most people who misuse opioids should be offered, say Virginia…

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Fighting Stigma: Down With “Drug Users”; Up With . . ?

February 13, 2017

There’s a movement afoot to banish short, snappy, offensive terms like “addict,” “drug users” and…

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2016

Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Treatment Varies Dramatically

December 13, 2016

“A study published Monday in the journal Health Affairs found significant disparities in Medicaid coverage…

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Use of Needle Exchange Programs Up Dramatically In 10 Years: CDC

December 13, 2016

“Although there was a significant increase in the use of syringe services programs (SSPs)—more commonly…

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Election: OTPs Should Be Vigilant, But Optimistic

December 6, 2016

How will the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, with far-ranging…

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AATOD Conference Recap

December 6, 2016

Double the number of opioid treatment programs—from 1,400 to 2,800—in the United States over the…

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AATOD Plenaries: Standing-Room-Only Interest in OTPs, MAT

December 6, 2016

Mark Parrino Mark Parrino, MPA, made no secret of his plan…

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Top Honors at AATOD Award Ceremony Go to Michael Botticelli, Others in Field

December 6, 2016

A centerpiece of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) is the…

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Introduction: The AATOD White Papers

December 6, 2016

Produced by the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) under a contract…

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Health Homes in Vermont: Start Some Patients on Buprenorphine in OTPs, Transfer to OBOT (Part I in a Series of AATOD White Papers)

December 6, 2016

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders (AATOD) this year issued three…

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How OTPs Can Integrate Care With Other Health Care Providers (Part II in a Series of AATOD White Papers)

December 6, 2016

The second white paper issued this year by the American Association for the Treatment of…

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Criminal Justice System: The Need to Educate the Courts, Corrections, and the Child Welfare System (Part III in a Series of AATOD White Papers)

December 6, 2016

The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) issued three white papers this…

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Surgeon General’s Report Focuses on Science, Medications

December 6, 2016

The U.S. Surgeon General’s report on alcohol and drugs—the first ever devoted to this topic—should…

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Innovative OTP Integrates Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment; Patients and Caregivers Benefit 

December 6, 2016

An innovative hospital, one of the largest in New York City, has successfully integrated buprenorphine…

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Vermont’s Hub-and-Spoke System Could Be Model for OTPs

October 11, 2016

In Vermont’s opioid treatment system, devised ingeniously by Gov. Peter Shumlin with Affordable Care Act…

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NIMBY: Even in an Opioid Epidemic, OTPs and Patients Fight an Uphill Battle

October 11, 2016

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) across the country have been engaged in battles to locate, in…

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Patient Advocate Calls On Federal Government to Fight NIMBY

October 11, 2016

Jocelyn Woods, MA, executive director of the National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery (NAMA-R), has…

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Health Policy Takes Aim at Two Epidemics—OUD in Pregnancy and NAS in Newborns

October 11, 2016

A comprehensive review article in Obstetrics and Gynecology summarizes troubling data on the epidemic of…

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RI Health Homes Initiative: Improving Wellness for The Patient, And The Bottom Line for Medicaid

October 11, 2016

People with opioid use disorders are a small percentage of Medicaid enrollees, but they represent…

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Marijuana Testing: Advice From SAMHSA and the Joint Commission

October 11, 2016

In this day of medical marijuana in some states, and recreational marijuana as well, what…

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Tennessee Patients’ Lack of Access at Root of Georgia’s OTP Moratorium

August 11, 2016

Georgia’s 67 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) aren’t enough to treat everyone in the state who…

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Tips From Top OTP Executives on Recruiting and Retaining Counselors

August 11, 2016

Finding and keeping good counselors in an opioid treatment program (OTP) isn’t easy, no matter…

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Early Intervention for OTPs: Education and Awareness Needed

August 11, 2016

Why don’t more patients go to opioid treatment programs (OTPs) earlier in their disease? For…

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OTPs Should Not Report Patient Information to PDMPs, But Should Use PDMPs For Patient Care

August 11, 2016

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) regulates opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and…

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Research Results: Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Help Reduce Opioid-Related Deaths

August 11, 2016

On July 14 Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Angus…

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Recently Released Resources

August 11, 2016

Whitepaper: “Models of Integrated Patient Care through OTPs and DATA 2000 Practices” available for download…

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AATOD Releases Second Whitepaper, Focusing on “Integrated Service Delivery Models for Opioid Treatment Programs in an Era of Increasing Opioid Addiction, Health Reform and Parity”

July 27, 2016

“The first section is written by Dr. Kenneth Stoller and Dr. Mary Ann Stephens in…

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Longtime Confidentiality Rule: SUD Consent Provisions Up for Change

June 7, 2016

In a process that began six years ago and is likely to continue for months,…

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AATOD Responds to HHS Buprenorphine-Cap Proposal

June 7, 2016

 Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) have been concerned about a proposal to raise the number of…

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Counseling in OTPs: A Necessary Part of Treatment with Medication

June 7, 2016

Counseling is a required component of an opioid treatment program (OTP) under the Substance Abuse…

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Psychosocial Intervention and Medications in Treating Opioid Use Disorders: A Review

June 7, 2016

Opioid overdose rates have risen to epidemic levels, underscoring the need for comprehensive treatment of…

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When OTP Patients Are in the Criminal Justice System: Collaborate and Communicate

June 7, 2016

Drug courts, corrections, and in fact the entire criminal justice system is undergoing a sea…

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A Significant Decline in Criminal Charges Seen With Methadone Treatment—not With Buprenorphine Treatment  

June 7, 2016

 A key goal in addiction treatment is to reduce the criminal activity associated with substance…

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Methadone or Buprenorphine? Letting Patients Choose May Improve Outcomes

April 18, 2016

Although either methadone or buprenorphine can treat opioid use disorders effectively, patients may have good…

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Joint Commission Makes Key Changes in Accreditation Standards for OTPs

April 18, 2016

A host of changes in accreditation standards are coming for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) from…

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How Treatment in an OTP Is Paid for: It Costs a Lot More Than the Price of the Medication

April 18, 2016

A December 30 article in Modern Healthcare blithely described the cost of methadone—the medication—as $4,000…

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Employment Rights for People on MMT: SUDS, HIV, Hepatitis

April 18, 2016

Five years ago, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ordered Hussey Copper to pay…

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Success Story: Advocate Opens First OTP, Second to Open This Spring

April 18, 2016

Counseling Solutions opened its first opioid treatment program (OTP) in Chatsworth, Georgia, in February, with…

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Death of an Important Voice in the Addiction Field: Stewart Leavitt Leaves a Legacy

April 18, 2016

When Stewart B. Leavitt, PhD, died in February at age 70, the methadone maintenance field…

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Medicaid Coverage of Methadone Essential in Treatment Access for Opioid Use Disorders: Study

February 11, 2016

States that have Medicaid funding for methadone treatment are far more likely than states without…

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AATOD Board Meeting With Federal Officials: Buprenorphine Cap Main Issue

February 11, 2016

The two-day meeting of the board of directors of the American Association for the Treatment…

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Administrative Withdrawal: Discharging OTP Patients for Nonpayment

February 11, 2016

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs), like other health care providers, are not required to provide patient…

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Stigma Article Series: Part I – Patients With Opioid Addiction Continue to Face Stigma  

February 11, 2016

Publisher’s Note: Despite the current buzz about the expansion of opioid-agonist treatment, stigma continues to…

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Stigma Article Series: Part II – Watch Your Language! Stigmatizing Patients Who Have Addiction Disorders Can Worsen Clinical Care

February 11, 2016

In two editorials published soon after he was appointed senior editor of the Journal of…

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Stigma Article Series: Part III – News Media Contribute to Stigma Directed at People Who Misuse Opioids

February 11, 2016

On December 1, Psychiatric Services in Advance, an online service of the American Psychiatric Association,…

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Stigma Article Series: Part IV – Fighting Stigma Against Opioid Treatment Programs: People and Education Are Needed

February 11, 2016

The best way to fight stigma against opioid treatment programs (OTPs) is to bring the…

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Patient Advocates: Leading Peer Specialists in OTPs

February 11, 2016

The growth of the patient advocate movement in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) is a benefit…

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2015

The Intersection of Pain and Addiction: OTPs Brace For More Patients

December 4, 2015

The ongoing efforts to reduce prescribing of opioids should have an effect on opioid treatment…

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Mark Parrino: Policy Responses to Opioid Epidemic Should Include Comprehensive Treatment

December 4, 2015

During the past year, key government agencies, medical associations, policy makers, the media, and families…

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Barriers to OTP Expansion

December 4, 2015

There’s a question on the minds of everyone who is involved with opioid treatment programs…

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Providing Naloxone to OTP Patients and Family Members: A Good Idea

December 4, 2015

Five patients at the opioid treatment program (OTP) where Jana Burson, MD, serves as medical…

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Profiling and Comparing Opioid Users: A Possible Tool for Intervention

December 4, 2015

In the August/September issue of the Addiction Treatment Forum newsletter we discussed a review article,…

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Beny Primm Leaves Legacy of Wisdom and Compassion in Methadone Treatment and HIV/AIDS

December 4, 2015

Beny Primm, MD, a leader in the treatment of opioid addiction and AIDS, died October…

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Dr. Jana Burson Blog – Injecting Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex)

November 16, 2015

“I know why addicts inject buprenorphine (Subutex): they think it saves them money. Over the…

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ASAM, Federal Officials Join to Promote MAT for Opioid Use Disorders

October 9, 2015

On September 24 the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), with the support of top…

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In The Age of Parity, Payers Still Put Up Barriers to OTP Reimbursement

October 9, 2015

Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance—all three programs are putting up barriers to reimbursement for treatment…

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Counties to Get the Purse Strings for SUD Services Under California Waiver: OTPs, Already In a Good Spot, Worry About Changes

October 9, 2015

A massive change in the way California Medicaid pays opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and other…

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Methadone Split-Dosing: Less NAS, Better Maternal Recovery

October 9, 2015

Cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)—a group of withdrawal symptoms that sometimes afflict newborns—increased about…

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John McCarthy, MD, ABPN, Answers Questions About the Methadone Split-Dosing Protocol  

October 9, 2015

AT Forum:  Your protocol for pregnant patients at the Bi-Valley clinic calls for giving split…

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Opioid Addiction: A Review of Long-Term Patterns and Consequences

October 9, 2015

Despite widespread news coverage, extensive research, and effective treatments, opioid addiction is reaching new heights—not…

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OTPs Can Help Support Primary Care Buprenorphine Prescribers

October 9, 2015

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) can do “all the heavy lifting” when it comes to counseling…

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Retrospective: Vincent Dole Would Be Disappointed In the Stigma MMT Patients Face Today

August 14, 2015

Vincent Dole, MD Twenty years ago, AT Forum published an interview…

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SAMHSA Awards $11 Million in Grants to Treat Opioid Use Disorders

August 14, 2015

In late July the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced which 11…

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To Reduce Opioid Treatment Program Legal Liability, Practice Good Medicine— And Document It

August 14, 2015

If your patient tests positive for illicit drugs while in treatment at your opioid treatment…

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ASAM Guideline Shows What It Takes To Treat Opioid Use Disorders: Medications and Support

August 14, 2015

In May, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) issued a practice guideline on medications…

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Don’t Ignore Benzodiazepines in the Opioid Epidemic: Massachusetts  

August 14, 2015

In April of 2014, Richard D. Lewis posted    “Opiates and benzos: A deadly cocktail of…

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New Medications for Hepatitis C Gradually Making Interferon a Drug of the Past

August 14, 2015

Interferon, a traditional medication sometimes used in combination with ribavirin or other medications to treat…

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Methadone Dose-capping Still Continues in Practice, If Not in Policy

June 3, 2015

Dose-capping—limiting the amount of methadone a patient can take on a daily basis—was ruled “contrary…

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Success! New York Medicaid to Reimburse OTPs for Buprenorphine

June 3, 2015

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are finally able to bill Medicaid for buprenorphine treatment in New…

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Access to HCV Screening, Testing, and Medications for Patients in Opioid Treatment Programs (Part III in a series)

June 3, 2015

What can patients in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) expect when seeking screening, v testing, and…

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CMS Proposes Extending Parity to Medicaid Managed Care

June 3, 2015

On April 6, just after the national meeting of the American Association for the Treatment…

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Opportunities for Medication-Assisted Treatment Access and Expansion: The Time Is Right

June 3, 2015

The heroin and prescription-opioid epidemic are intersecting with the Affordable Care Act and parity, creating…

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AATOD Conference Recap, Progress Report, and Future Challenges

May 8, 2015

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cocaine spoon and needle

Heroin Use Levels Off in U.S., But Still High: Report

April 23, 2015

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New OTP Accreditation Guidelines Will Not Allow Mid-Levels

April 21, 2015

Special Feature ATForum article. Read More…

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Opioid Treatment Program Accreditation Guidelines Will Not Allow Mid-Levels; SAMHSA Will Work with States on Exemptions

April 21, 2015

The final revised guidelines for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) were released March 31 by the…

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HHS Actions to Address Opioid-Drug Related Overdoses and Deaths in U.S.

April 6, 2015

Read More…

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SAMHSA Proposed Budget Encourages MAT for Treating Opioid Use Disorders

April 3, 2015

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released its budget request for…

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To Be Part of Integrated Health Care, You May Need an Electronic Health Record and an In-House Clinic

April 3, 2015

Electronic health records (EHRs) are needed when opioid treatment programs (OTPs) work in coordination with…

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Good News for Patients in Opioid Treatment Programs: Treatments for Hepatitis C Infection Are Becoming Affordable (Part II in a series)

April 3, 2015

The outlook for patients in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) who need affordable treatment for hepatitis…

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Lawyers in Kentucky Drug Court Case Wants Physicians, Not Judges, to Decide on MAT

April 3, 2015

A landmark lawsuit aimed at getting Kentucky drug courts to accept medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for…

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Legal Action Center Report: Medication-Assisted Treatment a Key Solution to the Opioid Epidemic

April 3, 2015

The Legal Action Center released a report in March focusing on medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The…

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Jerry Rhodes, from CRC to Acadia, Muses on Future of the Field

April 3, 2015

When Acadia Healthcare announced that it planned to acquire CRC Health Group last year, CRC…

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MAT Federal Lawsuit Against the State of Kentucky

March 11, 2015

“Two law firms have teamed up to file a federal lawsuit against the state of…

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Health Care Reform One Year Later: Medicaid Much Better Than Commercial Insurance for Opioid Treatment Programs

January 13, 2015

A year ago, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), with the expansion of Medicaid and the…

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Overcoming Obstacles to Opioid Treatment Expansion: The North Dakota Example

January 13, 2015

We’re well into one of the worst opioid addiction epidemics in recent memory, and one…

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For-Profit Opioid Treatment Programs Leading the Growth Curve

January 13, 2015

If it weren’t for proprietary financing interests, there would be little growth in opioid treatment…

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A Tough Challenge for Opioid Treatment Programs: Linking Hepatitis C Patients With Affordable Testing and Treatment Services

January 13, 2015

Finally, there’s good news for the many patients in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) who are…

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Thanks To ADA Lawsuit, Johnson City, Tennessee May Open Doors to Opioid Treatment Programs

January 13, 2015

Tri-Cities Holdings has been trying to site an opioid treatment program (OTP) in Johnson City,…

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California’s Reaction to Obamacare: Medi-Cal Better Than Commercial Plans

January 13, 2015

Alex Dodd, president and CEO of Aegis Treatment Centers, divides Obamacare─the Affordable Care Act (ACA)─into…

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NJ Supreme Court Rules Pregnant Woman on Methadone Not Guilty of Child Abuse

January 13, 2015

A December 22 unanimous ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court reversed a lower court…

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How Opioid Treatment Programs Can Prepare For and Manage DEA Inspections

January 13, 2015

Mark W. Caverly, who was an investigator for 31 years, in charge of diversion policy…

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2014

Drug-Overdose Deaths Have More Than Doubled in the U.S.

December 4, 2014

Opioids and heroin are two of the greatest offenders…  

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Dr. Clark

The Legacy of Dr. H. Westley Clark

December 4, 2014

SAMHSA Blog by Pamela S. Hyde.

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Kade Appointed Acting Director of CSAT in Wake of Clark’s Retiring

October 27, 2014

Daryl W. Kade, MA, has been appointed acting director of the Center for Substance Abuse…

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Increasing the Buprenorphine Patient Cap: Threat to Patient Care

October 27, 2014

Over the summer, steps have been taken to increase the “cap”—the number of patients a…

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“The Talk”—When Patients Want to Switch from Methadone to Buprenorphine

October 27, 2014

Most advocates in the field oppose the idea of a stable patient who is doing…

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Research: Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Addiction: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies

October 27, 2014

Buprenorphine/naloxone has been available in the U.S. for both opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and office-based…

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Primary Care Clinic Next to Opioid Treatment Program Provides Stigma-free Care

October 27, 2014

In Texas, people in the uninsured and indigent population die on average 29 years sooner…

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Attracting New Patients to Your Opioid Treatment Program: The Importance of Word of Mouth and Referrals

October 27, 2014

In many parts of the country, how to market to attract new patients to opioid…

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AATOD Policy Paper: Raising Buprenorphine Patient Cap Could Hurt Patient Care

August 19, 2014

The opioid overdose epidemic has led to a call by some to raise the 100-patient…

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Changes in Confidentiality Regulations Would Hurt Opioid Treatment Program Patients, Damage Privacy

August 19, 2014

The long process of reviewing 42 CFR Part 2, the regulation that governs confidentiality of…

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ONDCP’s Michael Botticelli on the Importance of OTPs in Treating Opioid Use Disorders

August 19, 2014

Michael Botticelli, acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and a…

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Medicaid Managed Care, New Insurance Rules Coming to New York Opioid Treatment Programs

August 19, 2014

There are big changes coming up for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and other substance use…

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Research Report: Dosage Trends in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs: Significant Improvement, But Still Below Evidence-Based Standards

August 19, 2014

The sharp rise in heroin use and prescription opioid abuse in recent years underscores the…

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Research Report: Patients Treated With Methadone vs. Buprenorphine: Differences in Demographic Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes