| Name rehabs | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance Recovery Center | 119 Sycamore Drive, Athens, Georgia, 30606 | (706) 8502-121 |
| DM & ADR Inc | 1710 Commerce Road, Athens, Georgia, 30607 | (706) 5520-688 |
| The Athens Area Commencement Center | 1175 Mitchell Bridge Rd, Athens, Georgia, 30606 | (706) 5467-355 |
Clarke adheres to strict federal and state regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Typical certification procedures cover aspects such as licensing, regular compliance inspections, personnel qualifications, dispensing protocols, inventory controls, security standards, and patient limits.
Clinics provide medication-assisted treatment using methadone, an opioid agonist medication that reduces cravings and blocks euphoric effects of other opioids. This allows people struggling with opioid addiction to regain stability and function while managing their recovery. Clinics dispense daily methadone doses under medical supervision along with counseling.
Insurance Coverage
Clarke has limited grant-funded methadone clinics offering free or affordable treatment based on financial hardship and lack of health insurance. More typical coverage options include:
- Medicaid: Georgia Medicaid programs cover treatment costs, counseling, care coordination, and tests for eligible members subject to restrictions.
- Private Insurance: Some plans may cover portions subjected to deductibles, copays, exclusions based on the plan details. Coverage varies significantly.
Drug Use in Clarke
- Opioid crisis declared public health emergency in Georgia in 2018
- Over 1,500 opioid overdose deaths in Georgia in 2020
- High rates of heroin and prescription opioid seizures/use in Clarke County
Top 5 most commonly cited drugs in addiction treatment admissions in Clarke County:
- Alcohol
- Opioids
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
- Patients reside at facility 24/7 for typical stays of 30, 60 or 90 days
- Structure, counseling, group therapy, medical care
Outpatient Treatment
- Patients attend programs but do not stay overnight
- Sessions multiple times per week for several hours a day
- Offered in various formats – individual, group, family, etc.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 39% of treatment admissions in Clarke did not specify treatment level
Comparison of Treatment in Clarke County vs. Fulton County
| Category | Clarke County | Fulton County |
| Number of Treatment Facilities | 19 | 95 |
| Inpatient Beds Available | 124 | 1,456 |
| Approx. Monthly Cost of Treatment | $8,000 | $10,000 |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is an opioid agonist medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). As an opioid that binds to brain receptors, it reduces cravings and withdrawal without causing a significant high. Taken orally once daily, it provides stable effects allowing patients to function normally. However, methadone treatment is often stigmatized.
Methadone Distribution
Georgia and federal regulations tightly control methadone distribution:
- Urine testing: Patients must complete at least 8 tests for illicit drugs in the first treatment year.
- Take-home doses: During the first 14 days, take-home methadone is limited to a daily dose. More take-homes are permitted later contingent on progress.
- Monitoring: Interprofessional teams monitor patient progress and stability.
- Prescription monitoring: Clinicians must check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to coordinate care and avoid negative interactions.
Georgia categorizes methadone as a Schedule II controlled substance – legal for medical use but with addiction potential.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone has treated opioid addiction since 1947 with abundant evidence of effectiveness. Studies demonstrate methadone reduces illicit opioid use, HIV transmission, criminal acts, and mortality while improving health and functioning compared to placebo, detoxification, non-medication rehab, and waitlisting groups. Specifically, MAT with methadone links to 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and 4.44 higher odds of staying in treatment versus non-medication protocols. Greater retention itself decreases disease risks and associates with increased employment.
However, methadone also carries misuse and diversion risks, severe withdrawal if stopped abruptly, QTc prolongation raising cardiac issues, and respiratory depression/overdose danger combined with benzodiazepines or alcohol. Still, studies show similar efficacy between methadone and buprenorphine in reducing illicit opioid use. In conclusion, methadone has benefits but requires careful patient selection, dosing, monitoring, and risk mitigation to optimize outcomes.
About Clarke
Clarke County is located in northeast Georgia on the outskirts of the Atlanta metro area. It borders Jackson County to the north and Oconee County to the south. The county seat and largest city is Athens. Clarke County covers 121 square miles of land area. Key infrastructure includes U.S. Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 78 as well as State Routes 8 and 15 providing transportation access in the region.
Population Statistics
As of the 2020 Census, the population of Clarke County is 128,331 residents. Key demographics include:
Gender:
- Male: 61,155 (47.7%)
- Female: 67,176 (52.3%)
Age:
- Under 18 years: 11.3%
- 18 to 64 years: 76.5%
- 65 years and over: 12.2%
Occupations:
- Management/business/science/arts: 48.3%
- Service: 14.7%
- Sales/office: 22.8%
- Natural resources/construction/maintenance: 4.4%
- Production/transportation/material moving: 9.8%
The county’s largest ethnic groups are White (73.5%) and Black/African American (21.4%). Key industries include education, health care, manufacturing, retail, and entertainment related to the University of Georgia.
