| Name rehabs | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| ADAPT Cares | 3101 Towanda Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215 | (410) 383-4995 |
| Addiction Treatment Services | 5200 Eastern Avenue MFL East 6th Floor Baltimore, MD 21224 | (410) 550-0051 |
| Addiction Treatment Services at Johns Hopkins Bayview - BBRC Building | 5501 Nathan Shock Drive Suite 1500 Baltimore, MD 21224 | |
| Addiction Treatment Services at Johns Hopkins Bayview - MFL Building | 5200 Eastern Avenue Floor 6-E Baltimore, MD 21224 | |
| Baltimore Behavioral Healthcare Inc | 1001 West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21223 | (410) 962-7180 |
| Baltimore Crisis Response Inc | 317 East North Avenue Apt 102 Baltimore, MD 21201 | (410) 433-5255x308 |
| Bon Secours Balt Hlth Systems Next Passage Drug Free Sbst Abuse Couns Svs | 2901 Druid Park Drive Suite A-103 Baltimore, MD 21215 | (410) 728-8901 |
| Bon Secours Hospital New Hope Treatment Center | 2401 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21223 | (410) 945-7706 |
| Bridge House | 28 South Broadway Baltimore, MD 21231 | (410) 732-0123 |
| Center for Addictions Medicine | 827 Linden Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201 | (410) 225-8240x2132 |
Rules and Regulations
Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States adheres to strict regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the State Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA). All clinics must be certified by SOTA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Certification Procedures
To be certified, a clinic must:
- Be accredited by an approved accreditation body like The Joint Commission.
- Employ licensed and credentialed staff.
- Follow federal and state regulations around dosing, counseling, etc.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Methadone maintenance treatment provides:
- Reduced illicit opioid use
- Decreased risk of overdose
- Improved social functioning
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose
Methadone clinics provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to those with opioid use disorder. Patients visit daily to receive methadone doses and can access counseling and other support services. The goal is harm reduction and improved quality of life.
Insurance Coverage
Many clinics accept Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. Uninsured patients may qualify for grant-funded treatment at reduced cost or for free.
Details vary, but Medicaid and many private plans cover methadone treatment. Medicare Part B covers treatment at certified clinics. Uninsured low-income patients may qualify for state or grant-funded treatment.
Drug Use in Baltimore
The opioid crisis declared a public health emergency
- In 2017, Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in response to the opioid epidemic in Maryland.
- There were 2,282 total intoxication deaths in Maryland in 2021, with 90% involving opioids.
Statistics on drug overdoses and deaths
- In 2020, there were 2,170 overdose deaths involving opioids in Maryland—a rate of 36.3 deaths per 100,000 persons compared to the national rate of 20.6 deaths per 100,000 persons.
- Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone continued to rise from 2019 to 2020 with increases of over 42%.
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves living at a treatment facility while undergoing intensive substance abuse treatment for 30 days on average. Treatment utilizes counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, case management, and other services.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment consists of periodic services at a treatment center up to 9 hours a week for 18 weeks on average. Services include therapy, support groups, and medication management.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 8.1% of admissions in Maryland did not specify treatment level in 2020.
Comparison of Treatment in Baltimore vs. Washington
| Categories | Baltimore | Washington, DC |
| Treatment centers | 289 | 223 |
| Inpatient beds | 3,528 | 2,996 |
| Cost of treatment | $15,000/mo | $25,000/mo |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is an opioid agonist medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs, also known as opioid treatment programs (OTPs). It binds to opioid receptors and reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms in people dependent on opioids. Patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment must visit a clinic daily to receive their prescribed dose under supervision. This ensures compliance and reduces diversion risks.
Methadone Distribution
Methadone distribution is highly regulated with strict monitoring requirements:
- Urine Testing: Patients must undergo at least eight random drug tests in the first year of treatment to detect any unauthorized drug use.
- Take-Home Doses: For the first 14 days of treatment, methadone doses are only given at the clinic. After 90 days of compliance, patients can earn take-home doses for Sundays. With 2 years of compliance, patients can earn a 14-day supply of take-home doses.
- Monitoring: OTPs must have an interprofessional team including physicians, nurses, and counselors to coordinate care. The initial dose and any adjustments must be approved by the physician.
- Prescription Drug Monitoring: Clinicians should review PDMP data to carefully cross-reference other opioid prescriptions and titrate methadone dosage appropriately. Methadone has a narrow therapeutic window and overdose risk.
In Maryland, methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance, indicating accepted medical use but also potential for abuse.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder that has been used since 1947. Studies show methadone reduces opioid use, disease transmission, and crime when patients are retained in treatment. Methadone patients have 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and are 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to placebo. Retention in treatment reduces overdose and disease transmission risks and increases employment opportunities.
However, methadone does have risks requiring careful management. There is potential for misuse and diversion. Withdrawal symptoms after stopping methadone suddenly are more severe compared to other opioids. Methadone can prolong the QTc interval on ECGs and cause cardiac arrhythmias. It also carries a risk of respiratory depression and overdose when combined with other substances like benzodiazepines.
Studies show methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective for reducing illicit opioid use and retaining patients in medication-assisted treatment. However, buprenorphine has a lower risk of overdose given its ceiling effect on respiratory depression.
In conclusion, methadone has demonstrated benefits but also unique risks that require careful monitoring and management.
About Baltimore
Location, County & List of Neighboring States
Baltimore is the largest city in the U.S. state of Maryland and is located in Baltimore County. It sits on the Patapsco River along the Chesapeake Bay.
Neighboring states:
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Capital and Largest City
Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and serves as the state capital.
Land Area
The land area of Baltimore City is 92.1 square miles.
Population Statistics
Total Population
The total population of Baltimore City is 593,490 as of 2021.
Gender
- Male: 47.1%
- Female: 52.9%
Age Brackets
- Under 18 years: 21.1%
- 18 to 65 years: 63.5%
- Over 65 years: 15.4%
Occupations
- Management, business, science, arts: 39.5%
- Service: 26.8%
- Sales, office: 23.3%
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: 6.1%
- Production & transportation: 4.2%
