Education Series Number 9 January 1999 Letter Supplement O N  Y O U R  L E T T E R H E A D Dear Doctor: The bearer of this letter is a patient in a methadone maintenance treatment program. Methadone patients frequently need treatment for other medical, surgical, and dental conditions. At times the health professional…

The intent of Bottle Recall initially was to be able to allow patients take home medication and to insure that methadone is not diverted to the streets. However, methadone programs have been giving patients take home medication for years without a serious methadone diversion problem. Furthermore numerous studies have demonstrated that methadone is not a…

Is Your Program Punitive? Fill Out a Grievance Report — It’s Time To Educate Them! Does Your Program Treat Patients With Dignity? Fill Out a Compliment Report — Let Them Know They are Appreciated! The Grievance Report Project is an ongoing project used to educate the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) community about quality treatment. Programs…

Basic Pharmacology:  How Methadone Works Part 2 Basic Opioid Pharmacology All natural and synthetic opioids exhibit a three dimensional T-shaped configuration (Barchas, Berger, Ciaranello and Elliott, 1977). This T-shaped molecule has two broad hydrophobic surfaces which are at right angles and a methylated nitrogen which is usually charged at physiological pH. The charged nitrogen is…

Methadone maintenance treatment has been the most effective treatment for addiction to heroin resulting the cessation of heroin use and criminal behavior. Prior to the development of methadone maintenance treatment over 28 years ago narcotic addiction was considered incurable and a behavioral disorder under the control of law enforcement. Drs. Dole and Nyswander brought the…