- Rules and regulations: Saint Catharine adheres to strict federal and state regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
Certification Procedures:
- Methadone clinics must be certified by SAMHSA and licensed by the state health department.
- Staff must meet educational and training requirements set by regulating bodies.
- Facilities must meet security, counseling, testing and other standards.
Medication-assisted treatment with methadone helps individuals with opioid use disorder by:
- Preventing painful withdrawal symptoms
- Reducing opioid cravings
- Allowing people to focus on their recovery and rebuilding their lives
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose:
- Methadone clinics provide daily supervised methadone doses and counseling to support recovery from opioid addiction. The goal is to help patients gain control over addiction and improve health and well-being.
Insurance Coverage
Many clinics accept:
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Private insurance plans
Some clinics offer treatment on a sliding fee scale based on income for those without insurance. Grants and public funding may also help cover free or low-cost treatment.
Drug Use in Saint Catharine
Opioid Crisis Declared Public Health Emergency
According to the Missouri Department of Health, opioid overdoses claimed the lives of 950 Missouri residents in 2020. Linn County reported 12 overdose deaths involving opioids that year.
- Heroin: 125 overdose deaths in Missouri in 2020
- Synthetic opioids (fentanyl): 493 overdose deaths in Missouri in 2020
- Prescription opioids: 287 overdose deaths in Missouri in 2020
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
- Average length of stay is 30 days
- Services include medical detoxification, individual and group counseling, aftercare planning
Outpatient Treatment
- Services provided 2-3 times per week for 2-4 hours per visit
- Located in clinics with flexible hours
Treatment Level Unreported
- An estimated 10-15% of patients do not report treatment level
- Mostly presumed to be outpatient
Treatment Metric | Saint Catharine | Neighboring Major City |
Number of Treatment Facilities | 2 | 15 |
Inpatient Beds Available | 16 | 230 |
Cost of Treatment | $15,000/month | $25,000/month |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs, also known as opioid treatment programs (OTPs), to treat opioid use disorder. It binds to opioid receptors and reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is taken orally once daily in prescribed doses.
Societal perspectives on methadone treatment vary, with some seeing it as merely replacing one opioid with another. However, research shows that methadone maintenance therapy allows people with opioid use disorder to function normally, attend work or school, and reduce their risk of overdose or disease transmission when properly managed under medical supervision.
Methadone Distribution
Methadone distribution is highly regulated with required monitoring to prevent misuse or diversion of the medication:
- Urine Testing: Patients must undergo at least eight random urine tests in the first year to ensure they are taking their prescribed dose and not using other non-prescribed opioids.
- Take-Home Requirements: For the first 14 days, patients must take their dose at the clinic. After meeting certain criteria, take-home doses are allowed but still regulated.
- Monitoring: Clinics must have an interprofessional team including counselors and nurses to monitor patient progress.
- Prescription Drug Monitoring: Clinicians should review the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data to ensure safe methadone dosage and titration.
As of 2022, Missouri classifies methadone as a Schedule II controlled substance requiring proper licensing and oversight for distribution.
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 when properly managed:
Evidence for Effectiveness
- 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests
- 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment
- Retention in treatment reduces overdose/disease transmission risk and increases employment
Major Drawbacks
- Potential for misuse/diversion
- Severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly
- Possible QTc prolongation/cardiac issues
- Respiratory depression/overdose risk when combined with other substances
Comparison to Other Medications:
Methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective for reducing opioid use.
Conclusion:
Methadone has demonstrated benefits but also risks requiring careful management.
About Saint Catharine
Saint Catharine is located in Linn County in the U.S. state of Missouri. Linn County borders the following states: Iowa, Illinois, Kansas. Jefferson City is the capital and largest city in Missouri. The land area of Saint Catharine is 0.31 sq miles.
Population Statistics
The total population of Saint Catharine is 207 people.
Demographics:
- Male: 51.2%
- Female: 48.8%
Age Brackets:
- Under 18 years: 16.4%
- 18 to 64 years: 66.2%
- 65 years and over: 17.4%
Occupations:
- Management, professional and related occupations: 34.3%
- Sales and office occupations: 16.4%
- Farming, fishing and forestry occupations: 11.6%
- Construction, extraction and maintenance occupations: 11.6%
- Production, transportation and material moving occupations: 26.1%
