Methadone Clinic Services to Treat Opioid, Heroin, and Prescription Drug Addiction

What is a methadone clinic?

A methadone clinic can be described as a facility that treats people who are addicted to opioid drugs like heroin and prescription painkillers. Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) are also known as methadone clinics. To stabilize patients from unmanageable withdrawal symptoms, they receive treatment medication such as methadone. This allows them to receive effective and long-lasting recovery therapy. Methadone, an opioid analgesic, is used to provide patients with a tolerable way to stop using illegal opioids. It also helps to prevent the patient from returning to these drugs.

What is the treatment plan for methadone addiction?

Methadone must always be administered by a medical professional. For long-term recovery, medication-assisted therapy is often paired with counseling services.

Every patient is treated individually. The factors that are considered include the type of drug being used, the duration of the drug, co-occurring medical conditions, and the patient’s response to treatment.

What is the care of patients at a methadone clinic

Methadone is prescribed for opioid addiction. It does not cause cravings for illicit opioids or the high that comes with using illegal drugs. Methadone is a legal medication for opioid addiction in the United States. It suppresses withdrawal symptoms for up to 24-hours, according the National Drug Intelligence Center’s Methadone Fast Facts.

Patients can also receive counseling in addition to methadone treatment. Counseling helps prevent drug relapse and helps patients deal stress, rebuild personal relationships, and achieve professional goals. For the complete treatment and recovery of the patient, counseling sessions can be offered in a variety of settings including family, group and one-on-one.

Some patients respond quickly to treatment, while others require more time to achieve stability.

What are the benefits to being treated in a methadone clinic

Methadone therapy is a combination of professional counseling and heroin treatment that can provide the following benefits for patients who are addicted to heroin or prescription painkillers:

• Stopping withdrawal symptoms from opioids
• Reduced opioid cravings
• The decline of illegal opioids’ harmful effects
• The physical dependence on opioids must be stopped so that they can make a full recovery.

Why is methadone considered the best opioid dependency treatment?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has established the Drug Addiction Treatment, which states that methadone is the best method to treat opioid dependence when used in combination with other protocols.

1. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), when prescribed by a licensed doctor, blocks how illicit opioids affect brain. This helps to stop drug cravings and dependence. Methadone has been the most popular treatment medication because of its affordability and effectiveness. Suboxone and Buprenorphine are less addictive than methadone. They have fewer side effects and can be used for those who have a shorter duration of opioid dependence. Only be prescribed for patients who have been detoxified.
2. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a treatment that prevents addiction relapse. CBT helps individuals identify and correct problems by using a variety of skills that can be used both to stop drug abuse or to deal with other issues that may arise. CBT is a way to help patients recognize potential problems and improve their self-control. Patients are encouraged to explore the negative and positive consequences of drug abuse. Patients self-monitor their cravings to identify early warning signs and situations that could put them at risk. They also learn strategies to deal with cravings and avoid high-risk situations. The cognitive-behavioral skills that patients learn are retained long after treatment is over.
3. Recovery Support Services (RSS: These services include housing, child care, and transportation. They promote a healthy lifestyle that reduces the chance of relapse, and aids those suffering from opioid addiction. People who are treated for opioid addiction with RSS in combination have better long-term outcomes than those who receive only one.

These protocols can be explored further in Chapter 4 of Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol and Drugs and Health. 

What happens when a new patient visits a methadone clinic?

Patients will discuss their health history and drug use with a local healthcare provider on the first day. A blood and urine test will be done on all patients. To prescribe an individual treatment plan, medical professionals will review the patient’s current health and examine their past health.

On their first visit, patients may be given treatment medication. To ensure that the correct medication is given to stabilize the patient, a patient must be showing withdrawal symptoms.

The medical staff informs patients about the treatment plan, sets goals and provides guidelines to ensure patient safety and success.

Initial patients are required to attend the methadone clinic each day in order to receive their medication and to have counseling sessions. Patients who show stability and dependability over time may be allowed to take their medication home and only visit the clinic for check-ups.

Who is responsible for a patient’s recovery in a methadone clinic

A methadone clinic will have medical professionals such as counselors, nurses, and physicians. The office will have administrative and business staff to help with its daily operations.

Patients are welcome to have their partners, spouses, and family members support them throughout treatment and recovery. If the patient consents, family members and friends can accompany the patient to any appointment.

How can I find the best methadone clinic in my area?

It is important to choose a reputable and experienced medical facility that is licensed and accredited.

As these are crucial parts of recovery, the clinic should provide support services such as counseling and community connections.

Start by looking online for reviews about methadone clinics. People should feel at ease with the staff and the treatment program when they visit a clinic. A clinic should be clean and welcoming.

Patients will spend the first day there, so it is important that the clinic is accessible for patients with flexible business hours.

At Another Way Methadone Clinic in Washington, DC, our providers give personalized and customized treatment plans to our patients. Contact us today to learn more!