| Name rehabs | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| State College Medical | 3091 Enterprise Drive Suite 150, State College, Pennsylvania, 16801 | (814) 2356-988 |
Centre adheres to strict federal and state regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Typical certification procedures cover aspects such as licensing, regular compliance inspections, personnel qualifications, dispensing protocols, inventory controls, security standards, and patient limits.
Clinics provide medication-assisted treatment using methadone, an opioid agonist medication that reduces cravings and blocks euphoric effects of other opioids. This allows people struggling with opioid addiction to regain stability and function while managing their recovery. Clinics dispense daily methadone doses under medical supervision along with counseling.
Insurance Coverage
Centre has limited grant-funded methadone clinics offering free or affordable treatment based on financial hardship and lack of health insurance. More typical coverage options include:
- Medicaid: Pennsylvania Medicaid programs cover treatment costs, counseling, care coordination, and tests for eligible members subject to restrictions.
- Private Insurance: Some plans may cover portions subjected to deductibles, copays, exclusions based on the plan details. Coverage varies significantly.
Drug Use in Centre
Pennsylvania declared an opioid public health emergency in 2018. While rates have declined slightly, fentanyl poses growing concerns in Centre as it emerges in more cases. Methamphetamine and cocaine are also major issues.
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient facilities offer 24/7 supervised addiction care typically for 30-90 days. Services include counseling, therapy, case management, medical care, job training, and discharge planning.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient provides therapy and support services for several hours at a time while living at home. Frequency starts higher then tapers down over time for continuing care needs.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 30-50% battling addiction access some form of treatment not reflected in Centre data through private doctors, community health centers, peer support groups, etc.
Comparison of Treatment in Centre vs. Neighboring Major City
| Category | State College, PA | Altoona, PA |
| Treatment Facilities | 15 | 25 |
| Inpatient Beds | 150 | 300 |
| Cost of Treatment | $7,500/month | $6,500/month |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is an opioid agonist medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). As an opioid that binds to the brain’s opioid receptors, it reduces cravings and withdrawal without causing a significant high. Taken orally once daily, it provides stable opioid effects to allow patients to function normally. However, methadone treatment is sometimes stigmatized by misconceptions.
Methadone Distribution
Pennsylvania and federal regulations tightly control methadone distribution:
- Urine testing: Patients must complete at least 8 urine tests for illicit drugs in the first treatment year.
- Take-home doses: During the first 14 days, take-home methadone is restricted to a daily dose. More take-homes are permitted later contingent on progress.
- Monitoring: Interprofessional teams monitor patient progress and stability.
- Prescription monitoring: Clinicians must check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to coordinate care and avoid negative interactions.
Pennsylvania categorizes methadone as a Schedule II controlled substance – legal for medical use but with addiction potential.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone has treated opioid addiction since 1947 with significant evidence of benefits. Studies demonstrate methadone decreases illicit opioid use, HIV risks, criminal acts, and mortality while bettering health and functioning compared to placebo, detoxification, non-medication rehabilitation, and waitlisting groups. Specifically, research links MAT with methadone to 33% less opioid-positive drug tests and 4.44 higher odds of staying in treatment versus non-medication protocols. Greater treatment retention itself lowers disease transmission risks and correlates to increased employment.
However, methadone also carries misuse/diversion risks, severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly, QTc prolongation raising cardiac complications, and respiratory depression/overdose danger when combined with benzodiazepines or alcohol. Nevertheless, studies show methadone and buprenorphine have comparable effectiveness in reducing illicit opioid use. In conclusion, methadone provides substantial benefits but requires careful patient selection, dosing, monitoring, and risk mitigation to optimize outcomes.
About Centre
Centre County is located in central Pennsylvania. The county seat and largest city is Bellefonte. Centre County covers over 1,000 square miles including land and water area. Key infrastructure includes Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 220 as transportation access points.
Population Statistics
As of the 2020 Census, the population of Centre County is 162,805 residents. Key demographics include:
Gender:
- Male: 80,023 (49.2%)
- Female: 82,782 (50.8%)
Age:
- Under 18 years: 13.6%
- 18 to 64 years: 69.8%
- 65 years and over: 16.6%
Occupations:
- Management/business/science/arts: 43.8%
- Service: 14.4%
- Sales/office: 24.3%
- Natural resources/construction/maintenance: 5.8%
- Production/transportation/material moving: 11.7%
The county’s largest ethnic groups are White (89.4%) and Asian (5.3%). Key industries include education, health care, manufacturing, and technology related to Penn State University.
