Rules and Regulations:
Thomaston, Upson County, Georgia, United States adheres to strict regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). All clinics must be certified and meet standards for dispensing and administering methadone.
Certification Procedures:
To be certified, a clinic must adhere to Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) regulations. This includes being accredited, having qualified staff, and meeting security standards. Clinics must also maintain detailed patient records and comply with confidentiality laws.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Methadone maintenance therapy provides the following benefits as part of a MAT program:
- Reduces opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Allows normalization of brain function
- Suppresses the euphoric effects of other opioids
- Improves health and social functioning
- Lowers risk of overdose and death
How clinics operate and their purpose:
- Methadone clinics provide daily supervised methadone dosing and comprehensive support services such as counseling and case management. This enables those with opioid use disorder to stabilize their lives and reduce the harm associated with substance abuse. The ultimate purpose is to improve public health and safety.
Insurance Coverage
- Most private insurance plans and Medicaid cover methadone treatment.
- Some clinics also offer sliding scale fees based on income. Uninsured patients may qualify for state-funded treatment. Grants and public funding help support low-cost and free clinics.
Drug Use in Thomaston
The opioid crisis has been declared a nationwide public health emergency. In Georgia:
- There were 1,014 opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2016
- 8.8 in 100,000 people have an opioid use disorder
The most commonly used substances in Georgia are:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Prescription Opioids
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves staying at a facility 24/7 for 1-3 months typically. It includes medical detox, counseling, group therapy, medication management, and aftercare planning.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment involves periodic services for 1-2 hours at a time, 1-3 days per week. It includes counseling, group therapy, medication management, and recovery support.
Treatment Level Unreported
Many individuals receive treatment through primary care doctors, self-help groups, and other means that are not officially tracked. Estimates suggest these account for around 40% of people recovering from addiction.
Comparison of Treatment in Thomaston vs. Atlanta
| City | Thomaston | Atlanta |
| Treatment Facilities | 2 | 25 |
| Inpatient Beds | 20 | 300 |
| Cost of Treatment | $15,000 | $30,000 |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
- Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used to treat opioid use disorder and dependence. As medication-assisted treatment (MAT), methadone helps prevent withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings by activating opioid receptors in the brain, reducing illicit opioid use. Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) provide methadone doses daily for stabilized treatment plans.
- Societal perspectives on methadone treatment are mixed – while it does help many people recover, some view it as merely replacing one opioid addiction with another. However, research shows methadone maintenance is effective when properly monitored.
Methadone Distribution
OTPs distributing methadone must follow strict federal and state regulations:
- Urine testing: Methadone maintenance patients must undergo at least eight random drug tests in the first year of treatment to detect illicit drug use.
- Take-home requirements: During the first 14 days of treatment, the take-home methadone supply is limited to a one-day/24-hour dose.
- Monitoring: Methadone treatment programs should have an interprofessional team including counselors, social workers, and medical staff to coordinate care.
- Prescription drug monitoring: Clinicians should review PDMP data to carefully cross-reference other opioid prescriptions, as methadone has a narrow therapeutic window.
In Georgia, methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance, available only through OTPs.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947. Studies show it is an effective MAT medication that:
- Reduces illicit opioid use, based on 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests
- Improves treatment retention – methadone patients are 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to non-medication treatments
- Reduces disease transmission and criminal behavior risks by retaining patients in care
- Increases employment opportunities for patients in recovery
However, methadone does carry risks:
- Potential for misuse/diversion of medication
- Severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly
- QTc prolongation/cardiac issues in some patients
- Respiratory depression/overdose when combined with alcohol or other substances
Research shows methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective for treating opioid use disorder. But careful patient monitoring is still needed to manage methadone’s risks.
About Thomaston
Thomaston is a city in and the county seat of Upson County, Georgia, United States.
Thomaston is located in west central Georgia. Upson County borders the following counties:
- Crawford
- Taylor
- Pike
- Lamar
- Spalding
The state of Georgia borders the following states:
Atlanta is the capital and largest city in Georgia.
Thomaston has a total area of 12.6 square miles.
Thomaston has a council-manager style government. The city provides residents with police, fire, public works and electric services.
Population Statistics
The 2020 Census recorded Thomaston’s population as 9,074.
Demographics:
- The population is 46% male and 54% female.
- Over 60% of the population is above the age of 45. About 20% are under age 18.
- The largest industries providing employment are education, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail trade. Over 70% of residents work in white-collar occupations.
