Rules and Regulations
Whitfield, Rankin County, Mississippi adheres to strict federal and state regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Mississippi State Department of Health. All clinics must be certified and provide counseling along with medication.
Certification Procedures
- Clinics must meet standards for safety, staff credentials, counseling services, and more.
- Staff must undergo background checks and training.
- Medication dosing and policies must follow best practices.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Methadone and buprenorphine effectively treat opioid addiction by preventing withdrawal and cravings. Medication combined with counseling and behavioral therapies provides a whole-patient approach.
Treatment is associated with:
- Reduced risk of overdose and transmitting infections
- Improved social functioning and quality of life
- Lower healthcare costs
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose
Methadone clinics provide medication, counseling, case management, and referrals to help patients recover from opioid addiction. The structured environment can gradually transition patients to living independently without misusing opioids.
Insurance Coverage
Most clinics accept Medicaid and private insurance. Some offer sliding-scale fees or government subsidies for those without coverage. Restrictions or copay may apply for methadone treatment.
Drug Use in Whitfield
In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health:
- In 2020, there were 660 opioid-involved overdose deaths in Mississippi, a 45% increase from 2019.
- Prescription opioids are involved in more overdose deaths than any other drug.
- The drugs most commonly involved in overdoses are fentanyl and methamphetamine.
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, education, and aftercare planning.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment allows the patient to live at home while attending sessions 1-5 times per week for 1-6 months. It involves counseling, group therapy, and recovery education.
Treatment Level Unreported
Around 22% of Mississippi treatment admissions are unreported. It’s estimated that half are inpatient and half are outpatient.
Comparison of Treatment in Whitfield vs. Jackson
| City | Facilities | Inpatient Beds | Cost |
| Whitfield | 2 | 50 | $10,000/month |
| Jackson | 12 | 200 | $15,000/month |
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 like heroin or prescription painkillers. Patients receive a daily oral dose of methadone under clinical supervision. The correct dose prevents opioid withdrawal and reduces drug cravings without producing euphoria.
Methadone maintenance therapy provides a safer, controlled dose of opioid medication to stabilize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of other opioids, and relieve physiological cravings. This allows patients to function normally and focus on making behavioral changes through counseling and support programs offered at OTPs.
Though methadone therapy has been used since the 1960s, it remains controversial, with stigma around substituting one opioid for another. However, research shows MAT leads to improved social functioning and quality of life. Methadone enables patients to hold jobs, avoid criminal activity, and reduce transmission rates of HIV and hepatitis.
Methadone is a medication that acts on the same brain receptors as opioids of abuse. It tricks the brain into thinking it’s still getting the problem opioid by occupying those receptors with a safer, prescribed dose. This stops withdrawal sickness and craving signals. Over time, methadone rebalances brain chemistry so patients no longer feel the need to use it.
Methadone Distribution
Description of Monitoring and Regulations:
- Urine Testing: Methadone patients must undergo at least eight urine tests for illicit drugs in the first year of treatment to ensure compliance.
- Take-Home Requirements: For the first 14 days, patients must take methadone daily on-site at the clinic. As treatment progresses, take-home doses are allowed for stable patients who follow program rules.
- Monitoring: Methadone clinics have interprofessional teams of doctors, nurses, counselors, and social workers to monitor patient progress.
- Prescription Drug Monitoring: Doctors check the state prescription database before prescribing methadone to avoid dangerous drug interactions.
Whitfield Drug Classifications
- Schedule I: Heroin, LSD, Marijuana
- Schedule II: Adderall, Oxycodone, Methadone
- Schedule III: Ketamine, Anabolic Steroids
- Schedule IV: Xanax, Soma, Valium
- Schedule V: Robitussin, Lomotil
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder used since 1947.
Evidence for Effectiveness
Studies show methadone reduces opioid use, disease transmission, and crime. Patients on methadone have 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests. They are also 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment. Retention in treatment reduces overdose and disease transmission risk and increases employment.
Major Drawbacks
Methadone has the potential for misuse and diversion. Sudden discontinuation can cause severe withdrawal. It can prolong the QT interval and cause cardiac issues. Combining it with other substances increases overdose risk through respiratory depression.
Comparison to Other Medications
Methadone is equally effective as buprenorphine for reducing opioid use.
Methadone provides benefits but also has risks requiring careful management.
About Whitfield
Location, County & Neighboring States
Whitfield is located in Rankin County, in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is bordered by the states of Louisiana to the south and west, Arkansas to the northwest, Tennessee to the north, and Alabama to the east.
Capital and Largest City
Jackson is the capital and largest city in Mississippi.
Land Area
Whitfield has a total area of 0.4 square miles.
Population Statistics
The population of Whitfield was recorded as 348 at the 2010 census.
Demographics
Gender
As of the 2010 census, there were 175 males and 173 females residing in Whitfield.
Age Brackets
- Under 18 years: 22.7%
- 18 to 64 years: 59.2%
- 65 years and over: 18.1%
Occupations
The most common occupations in Whitfield are:
- Management, business, science, and arts: 31.9%
- Sales and office: 24.4%
- Production, transportation, and material moving: 16.7%
- Service: 16.4%
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: 10.6%
