"Overcoming Barriers to Effective Opioid Addiction Treatment"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by STAT
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.