FAQ's About Advocate Training and Certification
- What is a methadone advocate?
- What is a NAMA Certified Methadone Advocate(CMA)?
- What are the goals of advocacy?
- What is the Code Of Ethics?
- How do I become a certified methadone advocate(CMA)?
- Why should I become a NAMA CPA?
A methadone advocate is someone who supports quality methadone
treatment. Quality methadone treatment places each individual patient first and
delivers treatment with dignity and respect. A methadone advocate can be a patient, a counselor, a doctor, a
regulator, or even politician. In fact being a methadone advocate has nothing to
do with being a patient, current or otherwise. Everyone involved in methadone
treatment is an advocate or at least should be.
A Certified Methadone Advocate is someone certified by NAMA
who supports the goals of
methadone advocacy, abides by the Code of Ethics, and takes the Patient Advocate
Certification course.
- to eliminate discrimination toward methadone patients.
- to create a more positive image about methadone maintenance treatment
- to help preserve patients' dignity and their rights
- to make treatment available on demand to every person who needs it
- to empower methadone patients with a strong public voice
A Code of Ethics for Responsible Methadone* Advocates
* CSAT is introducing the term Medication Assisted
Treatment (MAT) to identify opioid agonist treatments like methadone or LAAM,
that combine a physician approved medication with clinical or behavioral
therapies. Advocates may refer to themselves as MAT or "medication
assisted treatment" advocates or methadone advocates. We use the term
"methadone advocate". Individuals
may substitute MAT if that is their inclination.
1. In all matters the rights and dignity of the patient comes first.
2. A responsible advocate will take no action or give any advice that will make
matters worse for the individual patient.
3. A responsible advocate does not confuse advocating for methadone patients with
advocating for his or herself.
4. A responsible advocate will never violate the confidentiality of a patient nor
will he/she advocate for a patient without the patients consent.
5. An advocate will accept no personal privilege or other consideration not
available to other patients from providers or regulators. This does not preclude
advocates from accepting donations to any organized advocacy organization or scholarships to conferences or events as long
as they are made public. Compensated employees of methadone programs must inform
any patient for whom they are advocating that they are a compensated employee of
this or that provider.
6. An advocate will not accept personal compensation in any form from a patient for
providing advocacy services. This does not mean a patient cannot join an organization that an
advocate represents, but joining an organization is never a condition of
advocating for a patient. Nor does it preclude someone from accepting a salary
to provide advocacy services.
7. A responsible advocate, whether compensated or not, will at all times conduct
him or herself in a professional manner.
You become a certified patient advocate by taking the Patient Advocate
Training Course, agreeing to abide by the Code of Ethics, and to support
the goals of advocacy. Each individual who applies is reviewed by the
certification committee. If approved you will receive your certification in
mail.
- To learn about methadone from the top people in the field.
- To have the resources of a respected national organization behind you.
- To get credentialed in advocacy.
- To be mentored by the most experienced and knowledgeable methadone advocates anywhere.
- To be part of a national plan to end stigma.
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