Rules and Regulations
Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas, United States adheres to strict regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Methadone clinics must be certified by SAMHSA and licensed by the state.
Certification Procedures
To be certified, clinics must meet federal and state regulations on medication dispensing, counseling services, patient records, and more. Clinicians must complete special training. Clinics are inspected routinely.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Methadone and other medications coupled with counseling can help people recover from opioid addiction. Benefits include:
- Reducing opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Allowing people to focus on counseling and skills-building
- Lowering the risk of overdose
- Improving overall health
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose
Methadone clinics provide daily supervised methadone doses and counseling to people recovering from addiction. The structured environment helps people stabilize their lives.
Insurance Coverage
Many clinics accept Medicaid and private insurance. Some offer free or low-cost treatment based on income.
Free clinics
Free or low-cost clinics may be available through local health departments, social service agencies, or substance abuse treatment programs.
Drug Use in Olathe
The opioid crisis declared a public health emergency
- In 2017, there were 130 drug overdose deaths in Johnson County, a rate of 14.4 per 100,000 persons. This was higher than the statewide rate of 13.2 overdose deaths per 100,000 persons.
- The most commonly detected substances in overdose deaths in Johnson County were fentanyl (61%), methamphetamine (39%), heroin (36%), prescription opioids (27%), and cocaine (21%).
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves staying at a facility 24/7 for 1-3 months. It includes medical detox, therapy, counseling, life skills training, and aftercare planning.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment involves visiting a facility up to 5 days a week for 2-4 hours per day over a period of 4-6 weeks. It includes therapy, counseling, medication management, and recovery support groups.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 10-20% of people with substance abuse disorders in Johnson County receive some form of treatment, according to SAMHSA. However, many do not report their treatment level.
Comparison of Treatment in Olathe vs. Kansas City
| Category | Olathe | Kansas City |
| Treatment facilities | 15 | 28 |
| Inpatient beds available | 300 | 850 |
| Cost of 30 days inpatient | $15,000 | $25,000 |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used to treat opioid use disorder. As medication-assisted treatment (MAT), methadone helps prevent withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings by activating opioid receptors in the brain like other opioid drugs. However, it does not produce the same level of euphoria or sedation, allowing people with addiction to stabilize, function normally, and reduce the use of other opioids.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs provide daily doses of methadone along with counseling and other services. The goal is to improve health and social outcomes by reducing illicit opioid use and associated risks like disease transmission and overdose.
Society has had mixed views on methadone treatment. While it has strong evidence showing improved outcomes, some see it as merely substituting one opioid for another. However, experts consider appropriately-monitored methadone treatment to be safe and effective for treating opioid addiction.
Methadone Distribution
Methadone distribution is highly regulated with required monitoring to prevent misuse:
- Urine Testing: Patients must undergo at least eight random urine tests for illicit drugs in the first year of treatment and at least quarterly screening afterward.
- Take-Home Doses: For the first 14 days, patients must take daily doses at the clinic. As treatment progresses take-home doses are allowed but restricted based on time in treatment and urine screens.
- Interprofessional Teams: MMT programs should have nurses, counselors, social workers, and doctors monitoring patient progress.
- Prescription Monitoring: Clinicians should review state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data to coordinate care and avoid dangerous drug interactions.
In Kansas, methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance allowing use only for approved medical purposes like addiction treatment. Federal and state regulations aim to improve treatment while preventing the diversion of methadone to illicit uses.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder used since 1947. Studies show methadone reduces opioid use, disease transmission, and crime. Patients had 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and were 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment. Retention in treatment reduces overdose risk and increases employment.
However, methadone does have risks requiring careful management. Potential for misuse and severe withdrawal symptoms when stopped suddenly. High doses combined with other substances can cause overdose. Some patients develop heart issues requiring monitoring.
Overall methadone is equally effective as buprenorphine for reducing opioid use. Benefits but also risks requiring careful management.
About Olathe
Olathe is located in Johnson County in the U.S. state of Kansas.
Location, County & List of Neighboring States
Capital and Largest City
Capital and largest city: Topeka
Land Area
Total area: 20.94 sq mi
Population Statistics
Total population: 137,472 (2020)
Demographics:
Gender
- Male: 49%
- Female: 51%
Age Brackets
- Under 18 years: 28.4%
- 18 to 64 years: 59.3%
- 65 years and over: 12.3%
Occupations
- Management, business, science, and arts occupations: 39.8%
- Sales and office occupations: 24.5%
- Service occupations: 15.4%
- Production, transportation, and material moving occupations: 11%
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations: 9.2%
