| Name rehabs | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Metro Methadone Program | 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Mail Stop 4015, Kansas City, KS 66160 | (913) 588-6493 |
| Kansas City Treatment Center | 1125 North 5th Street Kansas City, KS 66101 | (913) 342-0888 |
Rules and Regulations
Kansas City, Wyandotte 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). All clinics must be certified and accredited.
Certification Procedures
Methadone clinics must follow SAMHSA standards to receive accreditation. This includes appropriate dosing, counseling services, drug testing, and record keeping. Staff must be licensed and trained. The facility must meet occupational safety standards. Regular inspections occur to maintain certification.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Methadone and other medication-assisted treatment provide the following benefits:
- Reduces opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Allows people to focus on recovery and life goals
- Lowers risk of overdose and death
- Improves overall health and social functioning
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose
Methadone clinics provide daily doses of methadone to treat opioid use disorder. Patients must visit the clinic each day to receive their prescribed dose. The clinics offer counseling and other services to support recovery. The purpose is to provide a medically supervised treatment program.
Insurance Coverage
Public and private insurance often covers methadone treatment. Medicaid covers treatment costs for low-income individuals. Those without insurance may seek treatment at state-funded clinics. Many clinics work with patients without insurance on an income-based sliding fee scale. Grants and public funding assist clinics serving vulnerable populations.
Drug Use in Kansas City
The opioid crisis has been declared a public health emergency in Kansas. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), there were 341 overdose deaths involving opioids in 2020 in the state. The drugs most commonly involved in overdoses in Kansas are:
- Heroin
- Synthetic opioids (like fentanyl)
- Prescription opioids
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 allows the patient to live at home while attending structured programming at a facility up to 5 days a week for several hours a day. It includes therapy, support groups, and medication management.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 10-20% of people with addiction do not report receiving any formal treatment according to SAMHSA. Reasons include cost, stigma, and lack of treatment capacity.
Comparison of Treatment in Kansas City vs. Wichita
| City | Treatment Facilities | Inpatient Beds | Cost of Treatment |
| Kansas City | 25 | 500 | $15,000/month |
| Wichita | 12 | 300 | $10,000/month |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used to treat opioid use disorder in a process known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). It is typically administered daily in specialized opioid treatment programs (OTPs) using an observed dosing model to prevent misuse. Methadone activates the opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms from other opioids while also blocking euphoric effects if other opioids are used.
Patients are started on a low dose that is gradually titrated to identify the optimal dosage to reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal. Urine drug screens and counseling are used concurrently to monitor progress and prevent misuse. Over time, patients may earn take-home doses allowing less frequent clinic visits.
Societal perspectives on methadone treatment range considerably. Supporters view it as an evidence-based treatment that improves outcomes and public health. Critics see it as merely replacing one opioid for another. Stigmatization of MAT is unfortunately still common.
Methadone Distribution
Methadone distribution is highly monitored with various federal and state regulations:
- Urine Testing: Federal OTP regulations require at least eight random drug tests in the first year of methadone treatment with a minimum of three tests per year thereafter. Tests check for continued opioid use and possible methadone misuse/diversion.
- Take-Home Requirements: Patients must attend a clinic for directly observed dosing for the first 14 days before potential take-home dose earned privileges. The maximum take-home supply is limited to 27 days of dosing after 2 years of compliant treatment.
- Monitoring: OTPs are required to utilize an interprofessional team including physicians, nurses, and behavioral counselors to coordinate care.
- Prescription Drug Monitoring: Clinicians should regularly review their state’s PDMP database when prescribing methadone to cross-reference other prescribed medications carefully and coordinate care with other providers as methadone has a narrow therapeutic index.
As an example, Kansas City statutes classify methadone as a Schedule II Controlled Substance with extra dispensing restrictions and penalties compared to other Schedule II medications due to high misuse and overdose risks if not closely monitored.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947 with over 30 years of research demonstrating effectiveness. Studies show participation in methadone maintenance treatment reduces opioid use based on drug testing, transmitting infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis from intravenous drug use sharing needles, criminal behaviors to obtain drugs, and risk of overdose death.
Evidence for Effectiveness:
Multiple studies have demonstrated methadone’s benefits in treating opioid use disorder through improving retention in treatment and reducing illicit opioid use:
- 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests for patients in methadone treatment
- 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to no medication
- Retention in MAT directly linked to reduced disease transmission from less injection drug use
- Employed patients quadrupled after one year of methadone treatment
Major Drawbacks:
However, methadone does carry risks including the potential for misuse/diversion given its street value, severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly increasing relapse risks, QTc prolongation and cardiac issues for some patients, respiratory depression/overdose risks particularly when combined with certain other substances like benzodiazepines. Careful patient selection and close monitoring are vital.
Comparison to Other Medications:
Multiple studies show methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective for treating opioid use disorder and reducing self-reported opioid use and cravings.
When carefully monitored, methadone maintenance is an evidence-based treatment for opioid addiction but also carries risks requiring coordination by an interprofessional team.
About Kansas City
Location, County & List of Neighboring States
Kansas City is located in Wyandotte County, Kansas, United States. It borders the following states:
Capital and Largest City
The capital and largest city in Kansas is Topeka.
Land Area
Wyandotte County has a total area of 156 square miles.
Population Statistics
Total Population
The total population of Wyandotte County is around 166,000 people.
Demographics:
Gender
- Male: 49%
- Female: 51%
Age Brackets
- Under 18 years: 25%
- 18 to 64 years: 62%
- 65 years and over: 13%
Occupations
- Management, business, science, and arts occupations: 32%
- Service occupations: 26%
- Sales and office occupations: 22%
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations: 12%
- Production, transportation, and material moving occupations: 8%
