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Rules and regulations: New Mexico adheres to strict regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the New Mexico Department of Health and Human Services. These provide oversight into safe operations.
Clinics must register with the DEA and state health department. Staff must undergo training on evidence-based addiction treatment.
Methadone therapy reduces illicit opioid use, overdose deaths, and transmission of infections like HIV and hepatitis. It helps individuals reclaim their health.
Clinics offer daily methadone doses and counseling sessions. The structured environment provides support through recovery. The goal is restoring function for patients.
Insurance Coverage
Uninsured patients may access treatment at little to no cost through state and federally-funded grants. These improve access.
Medicaid covers methadone therapy. Private plans required to cover it under the Mental Health Parity Act. Some costs may still apply.
Drug Use in New Mexico
New Mexico declared a statewide emergency for opioid use in 2017 to access special funds and resources.
In 2021, there were 788 overdose deaths in NM, a 33% increase from 2020. Over 75% of these involved opioids.
An estimated 156,000+ NM residents need treatment for illicit drug use. The most commonly misused substances are alcohol, marijuana, heroin and prescription opioids.
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves staying full-time at a specialty facility for 30-90 days typically.
Treatment utilizes individual and group counseling, medication, behavioral therapies and holistic approaches.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient allows patients to live at home and attend sessions at a facility.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 11% of cases did not specify treatment level.
Comparison of Treatment in New Mexico vs. Neighboring Major City
| Category | New Mexico | El Paso, TX |
| # of treatment facilities | Over 320 | Over 260 |
| Inpatient beds available | 1,300+ | 1,100+ |
| Cost of treatment | $5,000-$15,000+ per month | $7,500-$20,000+ per month |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is an opioid agonist medication. It binds to opioid receptors, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms in opioid use disorder patients.
Some believe methadone just substitutes one opioid for another. However, studies validate methadone therapy helps patients recover function.
Methadone tricks the brain into believing it is still getting problem opioids. This stabilizes patients, blocks euphoric highs from other opioids.
Methadone Distribution
Description of monitoring and regulations:
- Urine testing: Patients undergo at least eight urine tests in the first treatment year to ensure compliance.
- Take-home requirements: For the first 14 days, take-home methadone doses are restricted to a 24-hour Supply only.
- Monitoring: Clinics utilize interprofessional teams overseeing medical and counseling methadone therapy.
- Prescription monitoring: Providers check the PDMP to coordinate care and avoid dangerous drug interactions.
Methadone is a DEA Schedule II controlled substance, indicating abuse potential but accepted medical use.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder used since 1947. Studies show:
Evidence for Effectiveness
- 33% fewer opioid-positive drug screens for patients on methadone therapy
- 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment vs non-medication options
- Retention in treatment reduces disease transmission risks and promotes employment
Major Drawbacks
- Potential for misuse and diversion
- Severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly
- Cardiac issues and overdose risk when combined with other substances
Comparison to Other Medications:
Equally effective as buprenorphine for reducing opioid use
Conclusion:
Benefits but also risks requiring careful management
About New Mexico
New Mexico is located in the Southwestern United States. It shares borders with Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. It has 33 counties.
The capital of New Mexico is Santa Fe. Its largest city is Albuquerque.
New Mexico covers 121,590 square miles, making it the fifth largest state by area.
New Mexico has highways, railroads, airports and spaceports. Key industries include oil/gas, agriculture, government, and tourism.
Population Statistics
New Mexico has a population of about 2.1 million residents.
Demographics:
Gender:
50.5% female, 49.5% male
Age brackets
- Under 18 years old: 23%
- 18-65 years old: 61%
- Over 65 years old: 16%
Top occupations include office/administrative roles, sales, food service, healthcare, education, transportation, business/finance, etc. Largest employer is state/local government.