| Name rehabs | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Addiction Recovery Systems | 2192 Embassy Drive Lancaster, PA 17603 | (717) 394-7160 |
| Addiction Recovery Systems Lancaster | 2192 Embassy Drive Lancaster, PA 17603 | |
| White Deer Run of Lancaster | 53-55 North West End Avenue Lancaster, PA 17603 | (717) 396-0650 |
Rules and Regulations
Lancaster adheres to strict regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by federal and state laws overseeing dispensing and dosing of methadone as well as clinic operations.
Certification Procedures
Methadone clinics must be certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and licensed by the state. Staff must complete regular training on methadone treatment protocols.
Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment
Methadone maintenance therapy provides a legal, safe source of opioids to treat addiction. It stabilizes individuals, reduces withdrawal and cravings, and allows people to focus on their health and recovery.
How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose
Clinics provide daily supervised methadone doses and counseling to help individuals recover from opioid addiction. The goal is to help people gain control of addiction and work towards their goals.
Insurance Coverage
Medicaid and some private insurance plans cover methadone treatment. Clinics may offer cash pricing or income-based costs. Some clinics provide free treatment.
Free Clinics
Some non-profit clinics offer free methadone maintenance therapy funded by grants and public health programs. Eligibility is based on income.
Coverage varies in Pennsylvania. Medicaid covers methadone treatment. Private plans that comply with parity laws also provide coverage, although there may be limitations.
Drug Use in Lancaster
Pennsylvania has seen an increase in drug overdoses and deaths in recent years. According to the CDC, there were 5,456 drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2020, a 5% increase from the year before. The rise has been driven by synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Opioid Crisis Declared Public Health Emergency
- Pennsylvania had the 3rd highest drug overdose death rate in the U.S. in 2020
- Overdose deaths increased over 5 times from 1999 to 2020
Addiction Treatment Overview
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment involves staying at a facility 24/7 for 1-3 months typically. It includes medical monitoring, counseling, group therapy, etc.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment allows the patient to live at home while attending counseling and support groups multiple times a week.
Treatment Level Unreported
An estimated 10-20% of patients do not report their treatment level. Reasons may include privacy concerns or involvement in unofficial support groups.
Comparison of Treatment in Lancaster vs. York and Harrisburg
| City | Treatment Facilities | Inpatient Beds | Cost of Treatment |
| Lancaster | 15 | 500 | $10,000/month |
| York | 12 | 400 | $8,000/month |
| Harrisburg | 20 | 600 | $12,000/month |
Methadone Treatment
What is Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used to treat opioid use disorder and prevent withdrawal symptoms. It binds to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings and blocking the effects of illicit opioids. Methadone is taken orally once daily in liquid form under medical supervision at opioid treatment programs (OTPs).
As a medication-assisted treatment, methadone helps patients stop using opioids, avoid painful withdrawal symptoms, and regain control of their lives. Under the OTP model, patients receive comprehensive support services like counseling and case management.
Societal perspectives on methadone treatment are mixed. While evidence shows it is effective, some view it as merely substituting one opioid for another. However, properly prescribed methadone relieves withdrawal and craving without euphoria or sedation.
Methadone Distribution
Methadone distribution is strictly 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 detect additional substance use.
- Take-Home Requirements: For the first 14 days, methadone is only dispensed as a daily dose on-site. Over time patients can earn take-home doses for weekends or weeks at a time by following program rules.
- Monitoring: OTPs have interprofessional teams including doctors, nurses, and counselors to coordinate care. They track patients’ progress and watch for signs of misuse.
- Prescription Drug Monitoring: Clinicians should review state PDMP data to carefully cross-reference other opioid prescriptions with methadone’s dosage due to its narrow therapeutic window.
In Pennsylvania, methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance, available only at licensed OTPs.
Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research
Methadone is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder used since 1947. Studies show methadone reduces opioid use, disease transmission, and crime. Methadone patients have 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and are 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment. Retention in treatment reduces overdose and disease transmission risk and increases employment.
However, methadone does carry risks requiring careful management. Potential drawbacks include misuse/diversion, severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly, QTc prolongation/cardiac issues, and respiratory depression/overdose when combined with other substances. Methadone is equally as effective as buprenorphine for reducing opioid use.
Benefits but also risks requiring careful management.
About Lancaster
Location, County & List of Neighboring States
Lancaster is located in south-central Pennsylvania in Lancaster County. It is surrounded by the following states:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Delaware
- Maryland
- West Virginia
Capital and Largest City
Land Area
Lancaster has a total area of 7.4 square miles.
Infrastructure
Lancaster’s infrastructure includes a small airport, train station, highways, public transportation, utilities, hospitals, and parks. The county’s infrastructure facilitates agriculture, tourism, healthcare, and other industries in the largely rural area surrounding Lancaster City.
Population Statistics
Total Population
The population of Lancaster was 59,322 as of the 2020 census.
Demographics:
Gender
- Male: 47%
- Female: 53%
Age Brackets
- Under 18 years: 24.1%
- 18 to 64 years: 54.5%
- 65 years and over: 21.4%
Occupations
- Management, business, science, and arts occupations: 32.8%
- Service occupations: 20.2%
- Sales and office occupations: 24.6%
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations: 9.8%
- Production, transportation, and material moving occupations: 12.5%
