What to Watch Out For When Looking for a Methadone Clinic

Methadone is a schedule II controlled substance used to treat both opiate addiction and chronic pain. Most people who use methadone, go to a methadone clinic on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis depending on their level of recovery.

Unfortunately not all methadone clinics are created equally. It is important to know what makes a good methadone clinic so you can separate the good ones from the bad. For easy way to find a treatment center that offers care for opiate addiction call 888-810-5995 ( Who Answers?) .

Programs that Do Not Follow Federal Guidelines for Methadone Treatment

Methadone Clinic

Make sure the methadone clinic you choose has licensed staff.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration publishes guidelines for opioid and opiate treatment centers. These guidelines include:

  • the initial dosing guidelines
  • methadone anti-diversion programs
  • patient acceptance guidelines
  • staffing guidelines and licensing
  • take home guidelines
  • overall treatment standards

If the methadone clinic does not follow these guidelines, it probably is not the best choice for you. The guidelines are published to make sure that all methadone treatment is standardized and safe.

Clinics that Have a Reputation for Giving Out Methadone without Evaluation

If a clinic does not insist on evaluating your treatment needs before prescribing medication, the clinic is probably a pill mill and not a legitimate place of treatment. Most clinics will schedule an appointment and you will see a doctor or nurse practitioner who will assess your overall treatment needs. If they do not, it is a clear indication that it is one of the clinics you want to watch out for.

Clinics that Do Not Give you Instructions on How to Take your Methadone

Methadone is a very powerful drug. When taken on a regular schedule and in a controlled dose it is excellent for treating both addiction and chronic pain. Unfortunately, the dosage and schedule have to be strictly controlled for it to be safe and completely effective.

Clinics that do not give you clear instructions should be avoided at all costs. Methadone can be dangerous when taken in incorrect dosages or with certain other drugs, according to the National Library of Medicine.

8 Reasons Why Methadone Doctors are Special and Why you Should See One

Clinics that Do Not Provide Comprehensive Treatment Programs

Methadone treatment has to be a part of a complete treatment program. Simply taking methadone is similar to exchanging one drug for another. If you really want to be free of the addiction, you need counseling and other medical and psychological treatment.

Stay away from clinics that just prescribe methadone or other drugs without counseling, other testing, and aftercare. These are important parts of addiction recovery that should not be skipped.

Methadone Clinics with a Low Success Rate

If the treatment center you are going to refuses to give you their success rate, chance are it is not very high. This means there is something wrong with their program and you probably should not attend that particular clinic.

To find a clinic with a proven success rate, accreditation, and all of the necessary requirements all you have to do is call 888-810-5995 ( Who Answers?) . We can help you find the methadone treatment center that works for you.

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