Rules and Regulations
Bakersville, Mitchell County, North Carolina, 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). Clinics must be certified and accredited to prescribe methadone for opioid addiction treatment.
Certification procedures
Methadone clinics must register with SAMHSA and undergo inspections to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Staff must complete training programs focused on methadone treatment protocols, counseling, and patient care. Clinics must also meet security and record-keeping standards.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Methadone helps individuals recover from opioid addiction by relieving withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings. It allows people to regain stability and improve their health and behavior. Medication-assisted treatment has been shown to:
- Reduce illicit opioid use and overdose deaths
- Lower transmission rates of HIV and hepatitis
- Decrease criminal activity
How clinics operate and their purpose
Methadone clinics provide monitored, controlled doses of methadone to patients on a daily basis. This allows individuals to function normally without the negative effects of opioid addiction. Clinics offer comprehensive treatment programs including counseling and social services support. The goal is to help patients achieve long-term recovery.
Insurance Coverage
- Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance plans typically cover methadone treatment. Some clinics also offer sliding-scale fees based on income.
- Some non-profit and government-funded clinics provide methadone treatment at little to no cost for uninsured patients. These clinics receive grants and public funding to provide addiction services regardless of a person’s ability to pay.
Drug Use in Bakersville
The opioid crisis declared a public health emergency
- In 2017, there were 22 opioid-related overdose deaths in Mitchell County, a rate of 42.3 deaths per 100,000 persons compared to the national rate of 14.6.
- The most commonly detected substances in overdose deaths were prescription opioids (75%), heroin (25%), and synthetic opioids (25%).
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves staying at a facility 24/7 for 1-3 months. It includes medical detox, counseling, group therapy, medication management, and aftercare planning.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment involves periodic services for 1-2 hours 1-5 days per week. It includes counseling, group therapy, medication management, and recovery support.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 65% of Mitchell County residents who need addiction treatment don’t receive it. Barriers include cost, availability, and social stigma.
Comparison of Treatment in Bakersville vs. Asheville
| Values | Bakersville | Asheville |
| Treatment Facilities | 2 | 12 |
| Inpatient Beds | 16 | 120 |
| Cost of Treatment | $15,000/month | $25,000/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), to treat opioid use disorder. It binds to opioid receptors and reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This allows patients to focus on recovery without experiencing severe discomfort from opioid withdrawal.
Methadone is taken orally once daily and its effects last 24-36 hours. It is metabolized slowly, so it can be taken at a stable dose daily. Methadone has been used since 1947 to treat opioid addiction.
Societal perspectives on methadone treatment are mixed. Some view it as lifesaving addiction treatment, while others see it as replacing one opioid with another. However, research shows methadone maintenance therapy is effective for treating opioid addiction when combined with counseling and social support.
Methadone Distribution
Methadone distribution is highly regulated with required monitoring to prevent misuse and diversion:
- Urine testing: Patients must undergo at least 8 random urine tests in the first year to detect illicit drug use.
- Take-home requirements: For the first 14 days, patients must take methadone daily on-site. After meeting program requirements, take-home doses are allowed.
- Monitoring: OTPs must have an interprofessional team including physicians, nurses, and counselors monitoring patient progress.
- Prescription drug monitoring: Clinicians should review state PDMP data to carefully monitor methadone dosing, due to its narrow therapeutic index.
Bakersville, Mitchell County, North Carolina methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance, available only through OTPs.
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. Patients had 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and were 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to no medication. Retention in treatment reduces overdose and disease transmission risks and increases employment.
However, methadone does have risks including the potential for misuse and diversion, severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly, QTc prolongation and cardiac issues, respiratory depression, and overdose when combined with other substances.
Methadone is equally effective as buprenorphine for reducing opioid use but requires daily observed dosing. With careful management, methadone provides benefits but also has risks requiring monitoring.
About Bakersville
Location, County & List of Neighboring States
Bakersville is located in Mitchell County in western North Carolina. It is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Neighboring states:
Capital and largest city
The capital and largest city of North Carolina is Raleigh.
Land area
Bakersville has a total area of 2.5 square miles.
Infrastructure
Main roads include US Highway 19E and North Carolina Highway 226. The closest airport is Ashe County Airport.
Population Statistics
The population of Bakersville was 447 at the 2010 census.
Gender
- Male: 50.1%
- Female: 49.9%
Age brackets
- Under 18 years: 19.2%
- 18 to 64 years: 56.4%
- 65 years and over: 24.4%
Occupations
- Management, business, science, and arts occupations: 32.8%
- Service occupations: 17.2%
- Sales and office occupations: 23.3%
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations: 15.4%
- Production, transportation, and material moving occupations: 11.2%
