Tag

Methadone

All articles tagged with #methadone

health1 year ago•14 min saved

"Country's Methadone Access Leads to Decline in Opioid Crisis"

Switzerland's approach to addressing opioid addiction, which includes easy access to medications like methadone and prescription heroin, has led to significantly lower rates of opioid overdose and infectious disease transmission compared to the United States. The Swiss model, characterized by patient autonomy and quality of life, has been adopted by several European countries, resulting in improved public health outcomes. While some American experts argue that the European approach may not be directly applicable to the U.S. due to differences in drug markets and healthcare systems, there is a growing push in the U.S. to expand access to addiction medications like methadone in order to address the ongoing overdose crisis.

via STAT|

#addiction-treatment #health #methadone

health1 year ago•26 min saved

"Overcoming Barriers to Effective Opioid Addiction Treatment"

Many methadone clinics in the U.S. enforce strict and punitive rules that make it difficult for patients to maintain their recovery from opioid addiction, jeopardizing their stability and survival. Despite recent efforts to loosen regulations, clinics still face constraints that prevent them from providing convenient and compassionate care. Patients often endure indignities and red tape, and some are driven away from methadone treatment altogether. Critics argue that the system's punitive approach is rooted in the country's history of treating addiction as a crime rather than a health issue, and that the regulations are not based on medical evidence and can harm patients' health.

via STAT|

#federal-regulations #health #methadone

health-addiction-treatment1 year ago•19 min saved

"U.S. Opioid Crisis: Methadone and Buprenorphine Sidelines"

The U.S. is failing to effectively utilize medications like methadone and buprenorphine to prevent opioid overdose deaths, with various sectors obstructing their use. Despite their proven effectiveness in reducing overdose deaths and helping individuals achieve stable, healthy lives, barriers such as limited access, stigma, and opposition from organizations like Narcotics Anonymous and methadone clinics persist. The prevailing attitude in the U.S. often favors ineffective detox and 12-step approaches over medication-assisted treatment, contributing to the opioid crisis and exacerbating racial health disparities. Efforts to expand access to these medications and shift attitudes are underway, but outdated laws and practices continue to impede progress.

via STAT|

#addiction-treatment #buprenorphine #health-addiction-treatment

health1 year ago•7 min saved

"HHS Expands Opioid Disorder Treatment with Telemedicine at Home"

The US Department of Health and Human Services is updating regulations to allow opioid treatment programs to offer telemedicine appointments and at-home doses of methadone, aiming to make treatments more accessible and meet people where they are. These changes are part of the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to combat the ongoing overdose epidemic, including allowing federal grant funds to be used for purchasing test strips for xylazine, an animal sedative often found in street drugs, to prevent overdose and other drug-related harms. The updates are seen as a historic modernization to help connect more Americans with effective treatment for opioid use disorders.

via CNN|

#health #hhs #methadone