CATC – partnering to improve lives of patients.
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Recovery Day to bring awareness, support and hope
Tara Edeh from the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres and founder of Recovery Day, Annie McCullough shed light on Recovery Day dedicated to help out people coming out of any kind of addictions. – video courtesy of BT Breakfast Television.
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Toronto police issue safety alert after four suspected fentanyl deaths
Toronto police say there have been four deaths due to fentanyl and 20 incidents of fentanyl overdose since Thursday [within three days].
“Toronto police have issued a public safety alert after four deaths likely caused by fentanyl overdose in the past three days in downtown Toronto.
Police said there have been four fatalities and 20 overdose incidents since Thursday.
The most recent incident was on Saturday when a woman was found dead in a stairwell near Queen St. E and Trefann St.
A 27-year-old man died on Thursday in the area of Queen St. W. and Bathurst St., where he allegedly overdosed on heroin laced with fentanyl, a powerful opioid that’s about 50 times stronger than heroin…” — excerpt from thestar.com, by Bryann Aguilar, Alanna Rizza. July 29, 2017.
A highly successful treatment for opioid addiction. But stigma is holding it back.
“Medication-assisted treatment is often called the gold standard of addiction care. But much of the country has resisted it.
If you ask Jordan Hansen why he changed his mind on medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, this is the bottom line.
Several years ago, Hansen was against the form of treatment. If you asked him back then what he thought about it, he would have told you that it’s ineffective — and even harmful — for drug users. Like other critics, to Hansen, medication-assisted treatment was nothing more than substituting one drug (say, heroin) with another (methadone).” – Updated by German Lopez, Vox.com
Common Questions on Methadone Treatment Results
There are a variety of methadone treatment success stories that you can find all around. However, did you know that there are many factors that go into establishing successful methadone treatment results? This is perhaps the reason why there are many questions surrounding this question. Let’s take a look at some of them.
What is Methadone?
In the streets, you may hear it go by the names meth or juice. This particular drug belongs to the opioid family and has been designed for use with various opioid addictions like those of oxycodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, and heroin.
Designed? Yes, because methadone is a synthetic opioid so it is made in the laboratory from chemicals. It was initially developed and used in World War II in Germany for pain relief. Its use in addiction treatment was first seen during the 1960s.
Canadian regulations on the prescription of methadone and its uses for treatment have remained widely restrictive. However, in the 1990s there was a need to address the harm of drugs so changes were made for those who wanted to avail of the methadone treatment.
It is vital to point out that it is not a cure, but a treatment. This means that opioid addicts require medical and social support to achieve stabilization in their lives. Staying in treatments longer is the only way to get sustainable and significant results.
Who are Methadone Users?
The majority of those classified as methadone users are those suffering from opioid addiction. Some of its users though are not addicts, but have issues with severe chronic pain or pain that is associated with terminal illnesses.
It is not impossible for methadone to be used in the form of street drugs, but most of the time it is for the prevention of withdrawal symptoms due to opioid dependency. For pregnant women, the use of methadone is often viewed as a protection of the fetus. This is because withdrawal from opioid is highly associated with increased miscarriage or even premature births. The combination of medical care and methadone maintenance will improve the chances of delivering a healthy baby without any known long-term effects.
The number of people receiving treatment in Ontario alone has risen from 6,000 to 38,000 from 2000 up until 2012.
How Long is its Effect?
On the average, an opioid dependent can expect at least 24 hours of being free from withdrawal symptoms using a single methadone dose. This is quite acceptable when you consider that using heroin or short-acting opioids to keep away the same withdrawal symptoms requires anywhere from 3 to 4 doses per day.
The daily treatments may go indefinitely, but, should a decision to stop the treatment be arrived at by the doctor and the user, gradual tapering down of doses will be done. This can extend anywhere from weeks to months until such time that the process of withdrawal has been eased.
It is essential to understand that abrupt stoppage of methadone treatment will have adverse effects with withdrawal symptoms being manifested in as short as a day.
Is it Dangerous and Addictive?
There are always accompanying dangers when taking drugs like methadone. However, if it is taken as it is prescribed, then it is considered safe and will not damage any internal organs or brain processes even with prolonged used. This is why the supervision of a medical professional is a must when administering the treatment. It is for this reason as well that careful monitoring and control is exercised during treatment.
As far as addiction goes, modern definition dictates that we look at several factors in the assessment. There is tolerance, need for increased amounts, physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, compulsive usage, and continued use despite negative consequences.
When you take these factors into account, methadone treatment does not meet the full definition of addiction. This is of course looking at the treatment as it is administered by a qualified professional or treatment center.
We also have to take notice that methadone treatment is offered as a form of medical treatment and only people who are opioid addicts are prescribed it. Methadone delivers a safe alternative to curb the dangerous and desperate routines of their addiction. With the goal of freeing them up from their compulsions and focusing on improved lives.
You can contact Towards Recovery Clinics to find out more about methadone treatment results and other holistic solutions to addiction.
Types of Group Activities Help Addiction Treatment
Regardless whether you are undergoing treatment or in recovery for drug addiction, it is important to ensure that the possibilities of relapse are addressed. Would you simply accept the notion that relapse is a normal part of the road to recovery? For those who are truly serious in getting rid of their addiction, this is not the view to take. So how do you overcome this? One of the most effective ways is to engage in fun and meaningful addiction treatment group activities. These are designed to help keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay. What are the types of group of activities?
Motivational Therapy
This group activity helps addicts to gather motivational skills and techniques. It delivers motivational support that is needed by addicts to stay on the treatment or the road to recovery. The reality is that many addicts face difficulty in stopping their addiction because they are not motivated to commit to the change. This type of group activity changes this perception and way of thinking.
Educational Therapy
The therapy includes educating addicts not only about the drugs, but also about treatment, withdrawal symptoms, and more importantly, the options that are available to them. This is why it should be an integral part of any drug addiction treatment. The truth is that many addicts are not even aware of what they have gotten themselves into, or even the options for treatment that they can benefit from. This therapy gives them a chance to ask questions.
Group Yoga
These classes help addicts to focus and is an excellent way to enhance commitment to the drug addiction treatment. Yoga has been linked to stress reduction, improved blood circulation, and reduction of withdrawal symptoms. All of these are something that can benefit addicts.
Nature Walks
Have you ever gone on a nature walk? Then you will know that it has a calming and relaxing effect. It is not only a form of exercise, but also a way to meditate. Hiking and nature walks are not standard in addiction treatment programs because of the location or setting of the rehabilitation center. However, it can be modified to compensate for these stumbling blocks.
Art Classes
Did you know that this is a recognized form of holistic therapy? Group art classes assist addicts in not only learning about themselves, but also expressing what they feel. By keeping the hands busy, addicts overcome their restlessness and fidgeting as a result of the calming effects that the the activity brings. It also allows addicts to deal with their innermost feelings.
Sharing activities
This can be quite difficult for some addicts. But, it will obviously help them to open up about their struggles. When incorporated as one of the addiction treatment group activities, it helps addicts feel that they are not alone. This is an extremely powerful feeling to have, which is why it is included into almost all treatment programs.
Meditation and Relaxation
Is there any benefit in helping drug addicts meditate and relax? If you don’t know, these are proven activities that help people cope with stress and addiction. These are practiced around the world to help addicts achieve a better life. Part of this is the guided visualization wherein the addict is assisted in seeing their future where they are no longer dependent on drugs. Just because it is done in a group setting does not mean that it has to be social.
Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT)
What is RPT? This is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that is designed to limit the possibility of relapse. It helps addicts to cope and anticipate circumstances that can lead to a relapse. By having a strategy on how to deal with these circumstances, the situations become less risky.
A relapse prevention plan can include addiction treatment group activities because it curbs some feelings that can function as triggers. Some of the group activities help addicts to be completely aware of their feelings so they are able to anticipate the resulting relapse and do corrective measures.
If you want to know more about addiction treatment group activities for various types of addictions, call Towards Recovery Clinics today.
The Best Practices for Treatment of Addiction
Whether we accept it or not, addiction is here and it presents a pressing problem that cannot be neglected. How can we address the millions of people suffering from various forms of addiction around the world? Uncovering the proper treatment is truly a concern that must be taken seriously by every public health organization. Should we even be debating what method will work best, or should we look into how each method can help addicts individually?
Initially Concerns
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there were approximately 15.3 million people facing drug abuse problems in 2010. In the United States alone, as much as 10% of its citizens are dealing with at least one form of addiction. This is why addiction treatment is such a major concern for its public health department.
With so many recent advances in treatment technologies and the numerous studies that accompany it, there should be little difficulty in identifying what treatment works. How do we know which treatment would work based on the unique condition of the addict? There are a couple that are used today.
Evidenced-Based
These treatment practices are supported by evidences. These are typically the result of successful treatment outcomes with the one that has produced the most outstanding results in terms of treatment of addiction is the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The evidences are the product of numerous research works that have focused on implementing the best treatment methods possible. High quality treatment centers have experts in ensuring that these treatments are applied correctly to get the desired results.
Individualized Treatment
The protocols and approaches for this type of treatment method have been proven successful. These tailor-fitted solutions to the individual needs of addicts are done in a way to reduce its cost by allowing addicts to receive standardized treatments based on a set schedule. This is seen as a way to give each addict an equal chance at recovery. It takes into account the unique family, psychological, work, and social conditions that each addict faces. How can the individual needs be identified? These are normally uncovered during the initial clinical consultation and simply adjusted accordingly as the personal treatment progresses. Rehabilitation centers that implement this type of treatment stretches it to ensure that it includes recovery maintenance.
One-on-One Psychotherapy
This type of treatment is seen to improve the chances of success of residential treatment methods. Trained clinicians rely on at least two psychotherapy sessions each week to get the desired results. As research works have shown the inclusion of psychotherapy in the treatment process allows for a supportive relationship that assists in working through the causes of the addiction. As a safe haven, the addict can reveal the original causes of the addiction including circumstances that have contributed to its continuation. The information can lead to a successful recovery by the addict.
The Stages of Change
The goal of this model is to understand and predict the potential changes in therapy. Developed by Dr. James Prochaska, it establishes that changes can occur in a predictable way and understanding the stages that it goes through will bring about an effective treatment. The process of the treatment will be based on the analysis and overcoming of obstacles to the change.
Integrated, Holistic Treatment
As you have already seen, there are many varied approaches on implementing addiction treatments. Divergent stages and methods including techniques can widely vary. The bottom line is that these treatments should be handle by competent staff, include caring for the needs of the addict, and individualizing the approaches of the treatment.
These addiction treatment best practices will result in an effective recovery and rehabilitation procedure. Combine these with research-based approaches and you will be able to understand the causes of the addiction that will pave the way to identifying the proper course of treatment.
Rehabilitation centers are therefore tasked to work as a team in identifying the underlying causes of addiction as well as collaborate in planning out the most effective treatment plan for the addict. Monitoring and adjustment of the plan should also be included in the treatment process to ensure high quality individualized care.
Towards Recovery Clinics can help with individualized addiction treatment to help in rebuilding the lives and careers of those affected. Get in touch with them today.
Requirements in Seeking Methadone Treatment
In Canada, there is a prevailing policy on how methadone maintenance treatment should be implemented by those participating in the program. The policy has been in place since 2014 with the introduction of the product that is indicated for use with opioid dependence treatment. Each province is responsible for implementing their respective guidelines for the treatment of opioid addiction using methadone. So what are the things that you should know?
Getting Treatment
It is common knowledge that methadone treatment in Canada is handled either by private practitioners or treatment centers. There are methadone treatment requirements that must be satisfied before an addict can become part of the program.
You need to present proof, like a notarized letter from a physician attesting to the fact that you are receiving methadone. The letter should be written either in English or in French. The name and address that will be used by the patient while seeking treatment in Canada should be specified in the letter. It should also include the travel dates, daily methadone dosage, and other important medical information about the patient.
Aside from this the patient must present a proof of identity like a passport as well as the name of the Canadian physician that will administer the treatment. What if you don’t have the name and address of the Canadian physician who will handle the treatment? It is highly recommended that you visit the SAM website to get consultation, referral, and other information about general practitioners and clinics that are involved in the methadone maintenance treatment program.
This self-help website is very useful because the information is in English and French. You may also browse the Internet for treatment services in Canada, which is a database maintained by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Why do you need the information of the administering physician? Because you will need to send a request for travel to Canada to him. Further arrangements should be handled directly by the foreign physician and the chosen Canadian methadone treatment practitioner.
Dispensing Requirements
Despite being widely regarded as a safe medication, the prescription, dispensing, and consumption of methadone should be done in accordance with existing guidelines. This is because inappropriate or unsupervised use can result in dangerous consequences.
What are some of the key requirements for dispensing methadone that you should know about?
- The pharmacy should notify the OCP when dispensing methadone. It is the responsibility of the pharmacist to ensure that the College is notified within 7 days that they are dispensing methadone.
- The treatment and dispensing policy of OCP should be followed strictly. This means that pharmacists/physicians will be responsible for ensuring that there is adequate collaboration or communication between the pharmacist and the physician. Health Canada will be informed by the physician to ensure that there is a current and valid exemption. The exemptions for methadone treatment and chronic pain treatment are separate.
- All staff member should be adequately trained based on existing requirements. Prevailing policy is that the DM should be adequately trained in the first 6 months of the methadone treatment practice. There should also be at least one pharmacist employed as a staff within one year. The trainings of the pharmacists should be updated every 5 years at the very least.
To be able to prescribe methadone the exemption of the physician should be in accordance with section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The College is mandated not only to oversee the program, but also ensure that its quality is improved and that methadone maintenance treatment remains accessible in Ontario.
The profile of the treatment program has been enhanced using outreach activities and through the recruitment of physicians qualified to prescribe methadone as an opioid dependence treatment drug.
Towards Recovery Clinics should be able to provide you with more information on methadone treatment requirements. Give them a call today.
What is the Cost of Methadone Treatment?
Are you aware that there are over 50,000 people on the methadone maintenance treatment in Ontario alone? This is according to a paper that appeared in the Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy medical journal. What is the cost of this treatment to the public payer in Canada? Let’s try and see.
Importance of Price Quotes
Why is it necessary to have methadone treatment quotes? The estimate of the cost of the methadone treatment in Canada or anywhere else for that matter will serve as a guide in crafting policies that will cover healthcare financing decisions.
The estimates are commonly compared to those of other countries but not necessarily applicable to Canada because of a variety of reasons. For example, the quotes from other countries may include expenses that are not applicable to the Canadian perspective. The application of the fees of pharmacies, laboratory services, and physicians may also vary including the prevailing guidelines and programs of the respective governments.
The treatment guidelines also have to be taken into account because obviously the allowed frequency of visits will have an impact on the overall cost of the treatment. For the Canadian perspective, it is best to look at the cost estimate for the treatment of the opiate dependent user from the public payer perspective.
Based on treatment figures, the average daily cost is around $15.48 per patient. If the patient opts to go with continuous treatment for at least a year, the estimated cost will be $5,651. These figures reveal that the delivery of methadone treatment in Ontario in particular is within the same levels as those of Australia and the United States.
Comparing Cost Estimates
There will definitely be a variance in the implementation of methadone treatment. Costing studies conducted in Europe revealed that in the United Kingdom, the approximate cost of treatment is $3 but rises to $12 daily in Norway. These figures however were based on an earlier study conducted in 2010.
During the same period, the cost of methadone maintenance treatment in Australia was around $11 a day. This costs Australian prisons an estimated $3,234 per year per patient. Based on a cost-effectiveness analysis conducted between methadone and buprenorphine, the methadone treatment was cheaper by about $6 per day per patient.
Even within the same country, a comparison of cost estimates will show that the methadone treatment quotes vary. In the United States for example, the Veteran’s Affairs estimates the cost of treatment at $5,250 per year, while other programs showed an annual cost of only $4,176. The cost per week of the treatment would range anywhere from $42 to as much as $139. In New York, the average annual cost is pegged from $4,750 to $6,068.
When we take into account the number of patients that have been stabilized in a period of at least a year, the estimated cost for the clinic-based methadone treatment comes out at $240 a week while the office-based methadone treatment cost is at $275 weekly.
All of these estimates can serve as a baseline reference. The manner of treatment for methadone will also have an impact on future estimates. For example, in Canada methadone is classified as a controlled substance so it requires a prescription from a physician. The physician who will write a prescription will also have to undergo a specialized training program aside from an exemption issued by Health Canada.
There is also the factor of licensing bodies in every province that are tasked with the regulation of the prescription of methadone. The guidelines from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is normally used as a standard. These guidelines outline the appropriate testing, prescribing, and dispensing of methadone including other factors that can affect the treatment.
If you want to get more accurate methadone treatment quotes, call the Towards Recovery Clinics now.
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