Introduction - How to Use the Guide

Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Community Planning Guide

The issue of methadone maintenance treatment within the context of the health care and substance abuse treatment systems has surfaced in a number of communities. In many areas, potential methadone patients have been unable to access this treatment modality for a number of reasons including a negative perception of the model and a lack of service providers to administer the treatment.

Although methadone maintenance has been shown to be an effective mode of treatment for opioid-dependent individuals, the development of this treatment service has not been able to meet patient demand.

Even though methadone treatment has been around since the 1960's and its efficacy is well established, it is a modality which is not void of controversy. The planning and implementation of methadone maintenance treatment services will have to address attitudes and values opposed to the model in addition to the usual considerations in developing and planning addiction treatment services. Careful planning may help to decrease any problems which may set back, delay or even hinder the development of the service. One of the main objectives of this guide is to help community planners avoid these potential problem areas.

The resource is based in part upon the experiences in several communities where services have been established. This guide is not meant to be a prescriptive step by step formula. Each community is different and some of the information and knowledge may or may not be applicable. However, based upon previous knowledge, there are a number of key issues which may appear in your area as the development process evolves.

Since this document is not designed to capture all of the information that has been published on the many aspects of methadone maintenance treatment ( e.g. pharmacological, treatment effectiveness issues), a list of Recommended Resources is provided in the last section of the guide.

Next>> Methadone Maintenance Treatment - Rationale and Benefits

Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Community Planning Guide

1. Preface
2. Introduction - How to Use the Guide
3. Methadone Maintenance Treatment - Rationale and Benefits
4. Methadone Maintenance Treatment - Service Components and Delivery Models
5. Critical Stages in the Development of Methadone Maintenance Treatment Services
   1. Identification and Verification of Need
   2. Establishment of a Community Working Group
   3. Methadone Maintenance Treatment Model Development
   4. Implementation
   5. Evaluation
6. Continuity of Care for Methadone Patients
7. Special Treatment Issues
8. Community Development Troubleshooting Guide
9. Appendix - Methadone Fact Sheet
10. References
11. Recommended Resources

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