| Name rehabs | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Horizons Center Inc Outpatient Treatment Services | 615 Shipyard Boulevard Wilmington, NC 28412 | (910) 343-0145 |
| New Hanover Metro Treatment Center | 20 South 16th Street Wilmington, NC 28401 | (910) 251-6644 |
| Wilmington Treatment Center | 2520 Troy Drive Wilmington, NC 28401 | (800) 992-3671 |
Rules and Regulations
Wilmington adheres to strict regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Certification Procedures
To be certified, methadone clinics must:
- Meet staff credential requirements
- Follow treatment protocols and best practices
- Provide counseling and care coordination services
- Maintain patient records
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment with methadone can:
- Reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Lower risk of overdose death
- Help people maintain recovery and improve their quality of life
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose
Methadone clinics provide daily supervised methadone dosing and comprehensive treatment services to those with opioid use disorder. The purpose is to facilitate recovery and prevent harms associated with opioid addiction.
Insurance Coverage
Public and private insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, typically cover methadone treatment. Some clinics operate on an out-of-pocket basis or use sliding scale fees based on income. Grants and public funding also help support treatment access.
Drug Use in Wilmington
Wilmington and surrounding New Hanover County have seen rising substance abuse, with state and federal governments declaring an opioid crisis public health emergency.
Statistics on Drug Overdoses and Deaths
According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, there were 308 opioid-related deaths in New Hanover County in 2021. This translates to a rate of 34.3 deaths per 100,000 persons, higher than the overall NC rate of 28.4.
Data on Prevalence of Different Substances
The most commonly cited drugs in overdose deaths in New Hanover County in 2020 were:
- Fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (155 deaths)
- Heroin (32 deaths)
- Benzodiazepines (45 deaths)
Addiction Treatment Overview
Wilmington offers various accredited treatment options for substance abuse disorders.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient facilities provide 24/7 supervised care with lengths of stay ranging from 28 days to 90 days on average. Services include medical detoxification, individual and group counseling, aftercare planning, and more.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient programs offer services for 4-8 hours per day, 3-5 days a week. Care is provided at clinics with some services offered virtually or in the home.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 18% of admissions in New Hanover County were to treatment facilities not reporting their service level to the state in 2020.
Comparison of Treatment in Wilmington vs. Myrtle Beach
| City | Number of Treatment Facilities | Inpatient Beds Available | Approx. Monthly Cost |
| Wilmington, NC | 12 | 143 beds | $15,000 – $30,000 per month |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 8 | 104 beds | $12,000 – $25,000 per month |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used to treat opioid use disorder and dependence. As medication-assisted treatment (MAT), methadone helps prevent opioid withdrawal and reduces drug cravings by activating opioid receptors in the brain similarly to other opioid drugs. However, it does not provide the associated euphoria or high of misused opioids. Methadone is taken orally once daily in tapering doses under medical supervision in what are known as opioid treatment programs (OTPs).
Societal perspectives on methadone treatment are mixed. While it is an evidence-based treatment, some view it as merely replacing one addiction with another. However, methadone enables patients to function normally, improve health, reduce criminal behavior, and hold jobs. When taken as prescribed, it is safe and non-sedating.
Methadone Distribution
Methadone distribution is highly regulated with monitoring to prevent misuse:
- Urine testing: Patients must undergo at least eight random urine tests in the first year to ensure appropriate use and lack of additional substance use.
- Take-home requirements: For the first 14 days, methadone is only dispensed as a daily dose on-site at the clinic. Over time and with demonstrated progress, take-home doses can be allowed but are limited to prevent diversion.
- Monitoring: Methadone clinics have interprofessional teams including physicians, nurses, counselors, social workers, and pharmacists to monitor patient progress.
- Prescription drug monitoring: Providers should review the state’s PDMP database when determining dosage to avoid dangerous drug interactions.
In North Carolina, methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance allowing use only for medical treatment with strict oversight.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947. Studies show it is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder. Evidence includes:
- 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests for patients on MAT versus no medication
- 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment versus non-medication treatment
- Retention in treatment reduces overdose risk and transmission of HIV/HCV by 70-80% while increasing employment by 10-20%
However, methadone does carry risks including the potential for misuse and diversion, severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly, QTc prolongation and cardiac issues for some patients, respiratory depression, and overdose when combined with other substances like benzodiazepines.
About Wilmington
Location, County & List of Neighboring States
Wilmington is located in New Hanover County in southeastern North Carolina. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Neighboring states include:
Capital and Largest City
Raleigh is the capital and Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina.
Land Area
Wilmington covers 41.5 square miles of land area.
Infrastructure
Wilmington has a major port and airport. Key industries include manufacturing, finance, healthcare, retail, and tourism.
Population Statistics
Total Population
The population of Wilmington is 123,131 as of 2021.
Demographics
Gender
- Male: 47%
- Female: 53%
Age Brackets
- Under 18 years: 19.2%
- 18 to 64 years: 63.3%
- 65 years and over: 17.5%
Occupations
Top occupations in Wilmington include healthcare, retail trade, education, finance, tourism, and skilled trades.
