These clinics dispense medications that are used to treat opioid use disorders.
Methadone is commonly prescribed, butother medications, such as buprenorphine and naltrexone, may also be dispensed.
The prevalence of opioid use disorders has exploded since the late 1990s.
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Such clinics offer support, guidance, and other recovery tools as you work toward becoming opioid-free.
What Is Methadone?
Methadone can also be used to manage pain.
Methadone is considered a synthetic opioid agonist.
As a result, healthcare practitioners prescribed them without hesitation, which led to widespread misuse.
Though medication is a foundational aspect of these clinics, Dr. Appasani underscores the importance of therapy.
“Many people may stay on methadone for a long time but don’t necessarily need to.
Therapy can be valuable in helping a person rebuild their social structure and re-enter the workforce.”
Individuals can enter methadone clinics in a number of ways, according to Dr. Appasani.
These include their primary care providers, therapists, emergency room physicians, and court mandates.
Many people may decide to enter treatment themselves.
Methadone clinics' regimented protocols can be especially beneficial for certain patient subsets.
This ensures that these patients come into the clinic on a regular schedule in the beginning until theyre stabilized.
However, as Dr. Appasani and the researchers point out, treatment outcomes aren’t dependent on medication alone.
Treatment Can Prevent Violence
And impacts at the societal level are noticeable, as well.
Further studies on at-home methadone treatments are required to determine their efficacy on patient outcomes.
Getting Help
Since 1999, over 760,000 individuals have died from a drug overdose.
In 2018, two-thirds of overdose-related deaths involved an opioid.
Recoverycan look different from person to person, and theres no one-size-fits-all treatment plan.
To locate a meeting in your area, you’re free to go to their websitesdirectory.
Your physician can also refer you to an appropriate treatment program or specialist so that you receive adequate care.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Opioid crisis statistics.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Methadone.
National Institute on Drug Abuse.How do medications to treat opioid disorder work?
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Overdose death rates.
2018 Jun;7(1):13-21. doi:10.1007/s40122-018-0097-6
National Library of Medicine.Federal Regulation of Methadone Treatment.
2020 Apr 1;3(4):e203711.
2021 Dec;131:108454. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108454
