Chattanooga Methadone Clinics & Treatment Centers Locator Near Me in Chattanooga City, TN

Rules and Regulations

Chattanooga adheres to strict regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Tennessee Department of Health and local ordinances. These include certification requirements, operating procedures, security, and more.

Certification Procedures

Methadone clinics must be certified by the Tennessee Department of Health’s Division of Licensure and Regulation. This involves inspections, background checks on staff, and ensuring proper protocols are in place. Clinics must renew certification annually.

Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment

Methadone and other medication-assisted treatments for opioid addiction can help patients manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce opioid cravings, and allow them to focus on counseling and behavioral therapies. It facilitates rehabilitation and recovery.

How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose

Methadone clinics provide daily supervised methadone doses and counseling to those recovering from opioid addiction. This allows patients to function normally rather than seeking out illicit opioids. The clinics aim to facilitate recovery through medication, drug testing, and therapeutic support services.

Insurance Coverage

Medicaid and Medicare may cover methadone treatment fees, but many private insurers limit coverage. Grants help fund low-cost and free treatment at some clinics for uninsured patients.

Free Clinics

Some nonprofit clinics provide free methadone-assisted treatment funded by grants and public health programs. Eligibility is based on income and lack of insurance coverage. These clinics serve uninsured and low-income populations.

Public and Private Insurance Coverage Details

Specifics on Medicaid, Medicare, and major private insurance company coverage for methadone treatment including which costs are covered, treatment duration limits, prior authorization requirements, and more.

Drug Use in Chattanooga

The opioid crisis declared a public health emergency. In 2017, the opioid epidemic was declared a nationwide public health emergency. Tennessee has been significantly impacted, with over 1,800 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016 alone.

Statistics on Drug Overdoses and Deaths

• Opioids – detected in 80% of deaths
• Methamphetamine – detected in 45% of deaths
• Benzodiazepines – detected in 40% of deaths

Addiction Treatment Overview

Inpatient Treatment

• Description: Treatment in a residential facility providing 24/7 care and monitoring. Length of stay varies.
• Services: Medically managed detox, counseling, group therapy, medication management.

Outpatient Treatment

• Description: Treatment at a facility for sessions 1-5 days per week while living at home.
• Services: Counseling, group therapy, medication management.

Treatment Level Unreported

Many patients do not specify treatment levels. Estimates indicate at least 2,500 people receive some form of treatment annually.

Comparison of Treatment in Chattanooga vs. Knoxville

Methadone Treatment

What is Methadone

Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used to treat opioid use disorder and prevent withdrawal symptoms. It binds to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings and blocking the euphoric effects of other opioids. As part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), methadone is dispensed through opioid treatment programs (OTPs) that provide counseling and urine drug screening. The goal is to stabilize patients, reduce illicit opioid use and transmission of infectious diseases, and improve social functioning.

Societal perspectives on methadone treatment are mixed. Some view it as merely replacing one addiction with another. However, research shows MAT with methadone is associated with reduced mortality and criminal behavior. With proper monitoring, methadone allows patients to function normally rather than continually seek out opioids to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms.

Methadone Distribution

OTPs distributing methadone are heavily regulated with strict protocols to prevent misuse:

• Urine Testing: Methadone maintenance patients must undergo at least eight random urine tests in the first year of treatment to detect illicit drug use.
• Take-Home Requirements: During the first 14 days, take-home Supply is limited to a 24-hour dose dispensed daily at the clinic. As patients demonstrate progress, take-homes can gradually increase to a 1-month Supply.
• Monitoring: OTPs should have an interprofessional team including physicians, nurses, and counselors to coordinate care and adjust dosing if needed.
• Prescription Drug Monitoring: Clinicians should review PDMP data to carefully cross-reference other opioid prescriptions with methadone, which has a narrow therapeutic window.

In Tennessee, methadone is a Schedule II controlled prescription drug, with extra regulations on prescribing and dispensing. Hamilton County has 10 licensed OTPs dispensing methadone to about 5,000 patients in 2020.

Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research

Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947. Studies show it is an effective MAT option that:

Evidence for Effectiveness

• Reduces opioid-positive urine drug tests by 33%
• Increases treatment retention 4.44X compared to non-medication treatments
• Retention reduces overdose risk and infectious disease transmission while improving employment

Major Drawbacks

• Potential for misuse and diversion with severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly
• Can prolong the QT interval on EKGs, increasing cardiac arrhythmia risk
• Causes respiratory depression and overdose death when combined with other CNS depressants like benzodiazepines and alcohol

Comparison to Other Medications

About Chattanooga

Location, County & List of Neighboring States

Chattanooga is located in southeast Tennessee along the Tennessee River in Hamilton County. Neighboring states include Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the east, Virginia to the northeast, Kentucky to the north, and Alabama to the west.

Capital and Largest City

Nashville is the capital and Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee. Chattanooga is Tennessee’s fourth largest city.

Land Area

The land area of Chattanooga is 144.6 square miles.

Infrastructure

• Riverport on the Tennessee River
• Lovell Field Airport
• Interstate highways I-24, I-75, I-59
• Public bus transit system (CARTA)
• Passenger rail service from Amtrak

Population Statistics

Total Population

The population of Chattanooga is approximately 183,000 as of 2021.

Demographics

Gender

• Male: 48%
• Female: 52%

Age Brackets

• Under 18 years: 22%
• 18 to 65 years: 63%
• Over 65 years: 15%

Occupations

• Management, business, science, arts: 34%
• Sales and office: 24%
• Service: 18%
• Production, transportation, and material moving: 14%
• Natural resources, construction, maintenance: 10%