National Methadone Conference AMTA 2001
Monday, October 8th, 11 am to 1 pm
Chair Mark Parrino, American Methadone Treatment Association
The Policy Maker’s Luncheon is an invitation only event that is attended by the federal and state agencies and national organizational representatives (i.e. ASAM, NAMA). Therefore no pictures were taken during the luncheon. The Policy Makers Luncheon was initiated as a way to get the regulatory bodies together for discussions prior to changes in the federal regulation.
This year six NAMA patient representatives attended including Joycelyn Woods, Alice Diorio, Mark Beresky, Jo Sotheran, Herman Joseph and Walter Ginter.
The luncheon begins with introductions around the room. Prior to discussions there were two significant things in the interest of patients to note. After the introduction of all the attendees Mark Parrino restated his promise to Joycelyn Woods when she attended as the only patient representative at the 1997 conference in Chicago that at each conference more patient advocates would be invited to the Policy Maker’s Luncheon. After the introductions Mark Parrino asked Joycelyn Woods for the first comment giving patient advocates the first say.
The first important announcement was that AMTA or the American Methadone Treatment Association would be changing their name to reflect the changes that are occurring in the field. The association will now be the American Association for the Treatment of Opiate Dependence or AATOD. The Board of Directors just prior to the conference decided on the change.
The Plan introduced at the luncheon is an ambitious one and is focused on several major areas that need to be addressed to improve the quality of treatment and for methadone to be accepted as a medication. The goal will be to create a renaissance within the methadone community. The major areas include (1) accreditation, (2) criminal justice issues, (3) expansion of Medical Maintenance, (4) training physicians and program staff, (5) organizing the methadone community and (6) educating the public about methadone.
Within the criminal justice system are plans to educate Drug Court Judges, change the U.S. Department of Probation’s anti- methadone guidelines and expanding methadone treatment in the prison system.
Several training initiatives are planned. Program managers will receive training to address the new challenges confronting methadone treatment and treatment staff will also receive training about the advances that have occurred in the past decade and to be able to provide quality methadone treatment. Of utmost importance is the training initiative for physicians that will expand the number of qualified physicians and improve the knowledge of current clinicians in best practice principles.
Guidelines for the Medical Maintenance program have been developed and now the thrust will be to expand the program to give qualified patients access.
AMTA/AATOD will continue to organize the treatment community and encourage the formation of state associations as well as a new initiative that allows individual providers to join. Internationally AMTA/AATOD will work to improve coordination amongst providers in other countries and to expand organizing efforts worldwide.
The final initiative is the education of American about the value of methadone maintenance treatment. This is a long-term commitment to reduce the ignorance and stigma and to make methadone a real option for those who need treatment.