Rules and Regulations
Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas, 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).
Certification Procedures
Methadone clinics must register with SAMHSA and undergo inspections to receive certification. Staff must complete training on methadone treatment protocols. Clinics must track dispensing and dosing, provide counseling, and meet patient admission criteria.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Methadone and other medications coupled with counseling have been shown to:
- Reduce opioid withdrawal and cravings
- Lower risk of overdose
- Allow stable functioning for patients
- Facilitate compliance with treatment programs
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose
Methadone clinics provide daily supervised methadone dosing and counseling to treat opioid addiction. The medication prevents withdrawal symptoms for 24-36 hours. Patients visit clinics daily and meet with staff to receive methadone doses and discuss treatment plans.
Insurance Coverage
Methadone treatment may be covered by private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. Some clinics operate on a sliding scale based on income.
Free clinics
Some clinics receive government grants to provide free methadone treatment to uninsured patients who meet income requirements. Others partner with local health departments to offer discounted or free services. Public funding helps expand access to methadone treatment.
Drug Use in Overland Park
The opioid crisis has been declared a nationwide public health emergency. In Johnson County specifically:
- There were 123 drug overdose deaths in 2021, a 45% increase over 2020
The most common drugs involved in overdoses are:
- Opioids – involved in 73% of deaths
- Methamphetamine – involved in 31% of deaths
- Cocaine – involved in 21% of deaths
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
- Patients reside at the facility full-time for the duration of the program
- Programs typically last 28-30 days
- Services include counseling, group therapy, medical monitoring
Outpatient Treatment
- Patients attend structured programming at a facility for <8 hours per day
- Generally meet 3-5 days per week
- Services provided at certified treatment centers
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 83% of people needing addiction treatment in Johnson County do not receive it
Comparison of Treatment Availability
| Category | Overland Park | Kansas City |
| Treatment Centers | 112 | 162 |
| Inpatient Beds | 1,872 | 2,113 |
| Cost of Treatment | $15,000/month | $10,000/month |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is an opioid agonist medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. It binds to opioid receptors and reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is taken orally once daily in opioid treatment programs (OTPs).
Mechanism as medication-assisted treatment, OTP principle
- Taken orally once daily at OTPs
- Prevents opioid withdrawal and cravings by binding to opioid receptors
- Allows normalization of brain function disrupted by opioid misuse
- Enables patients to focus on counseling, recovery, and lifestyle changes
Societal perspectives on methadone treatment
- Some see it as trading one addiction for another
- Others recognize it helps stabilize patients and reduce illegal opioid use
In layman’s terms, methadone relieves the symptoms of opioid addiction and dependence, allowing patients to function normally and pursue recovery.
Methadone Distribution
Description of monitoring and regulations:
- Urine testing: Methadone maintenance patients must undergo at least eight tests in the first year of treatment to detect any continued illicit drug use.
- Take-home requirements: During the first 14 days of treatment, the take-home supply of methadone is limited to a 24-hour supply that must be ingested under staff supervision for safety.
- Monitoring: Methadone treatment programs should have an interprofessional team of medical, counseling, and case management staff monitoring patient progress.
- Prescription drug monitoring: Clinicians should review prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data to carefully cross-reference other opioid dosages if prescribed, as methadone has a narrow therapeutic window and overdose risk.
Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance, available only at licensed OTPs.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder used since 1947.
Evidence for Effectiveness
Studies show methadone treatment reduces opioid use, disease transmission from injection drug use, and drug-related criminal behavior:
- 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests for patients on MAT
- 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment versus no medication
- Retention in treatment reduces overdose risk, HIV risk from needle sharing, and unemployment
Major Drawbacks
Potential for misuse/diversion Severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly Possible QTc prolongation/cardiac issues
Respiratory depression/overdose when combined with other substances
Comparison to Other Medications
Methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective for reducing illicit opioid use and enabling patient function.
Benefits but also risks requiring careful management
About Overland Park
Overland Park is located in Johnson County in the northeastern part of Kansas, United States.
Location, County & List of Neighboring States
Johnson County
Neighboring states:
Capital and Largest City
Capital and largest city: Topeka
Land Area
Overland Parkland area: 75.26 sq miles
Infrastructure
Overland Park has a developed infrastructure that includes:
- Extensive road networks and public transport
- Advanced communication networks
- Robust utility services like electricity, water, sewage etc.
- Public facilities like schools, hospitals, parks etc.
Population Statistics
Total Population
Overland Park population (2020 census): 195,492 residents
Demographics:
Gender
- Male: 48%
- Female: 52%
Age Brackets
- Under 18 years: 25%
- 18 to 65 years: 57%
- Above 65 years: 18%
Occupations
- Management, business, science, and arts: 60%
- Sales and office: 23%
- Service: 12%
- Others: 5%
