Methadone Clinics in Memphis

Rules and Regulations

Memphis adheres to strict federal and state regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Certification Procedures

• Methadone clinics must be certified by SAMHSA and licensed by the state of Tennessee to dispense methadone as medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
• Staff must meet educational and licensing criteria set by the state of Tennessee.
• Regular inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with Tennessee regulations.

Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment with methadone has been shown to:

• Reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• Allow people to focus on their health and participation in counseling/behavioral therapies
• Greatly reduces the risk of overdose death
• Improve overall quality of life

How Clinics Operate and Their Purpose

Methadone clinics in Memphis provide daily supervised methadone dosing and counseling/support services to those recovering from opioid addiction. The medication relieves withdrawal symptoms and cravings so that people can work on changing addictive behaviors and rebuilding their lives.

Insurance Coverage

Medicaid and many private insurance plans cover methadone treatment in Memphis. Some clinics operate on an out-of-pocket basis. Tennessee and local Memphis programs may also assist.

Drug Use in Memphis

The opioid crisis has been declared a nationwide public health emergency. In Tennessee:

• There were 1,269 overdose deaths in 2018, a 3% increase from 2017
• 75% of overdose deaths involved opioids
• Shelby County had 308 overdose deaths in 2018

Addiction Treatment Overview

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient facilities provide 24/7 care and monitoring for those overcoming addiction. Typical stays range from 28-90 days. Services include medical supervision, counseling, group therapy, educational programs, and aftercare planning.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient programs offer similar services to inpatient but allow the individual to live at home. There are varying levels of outpatient treatment depending on needs:

• Partial hospitalization provides 20+ hours per week
• Intensive outpatient offers 9-19 hours per week
• Standard outpatient is 1-8 hours per week

Treatment Level Unreported

An estimated 10% of facilities did not report their treatment level in a recent national survey. However, the overall capacity remains robust.

Comparison of Treatment Availability

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 withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings by activating opioid receptors in the brain like other opioid drugs. However, it does not produce the same level of euphoria or sedation, allowing people with addiction to stabilize, function normally, and focus on recovery. Methadone is only provided through federally regulated opioid treatment programs (OTPs) with observed daily dosing.

Societal perspectives on methadone treatment are mixed. While it does help many people recover, some view it as merely replacing one addiction with another. However, research shows methadone significantly improves outcomes when properly managed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Methadone Distribution

Methadone distribution is strictly monitored and regulated:

• Urine testing: Patients must undergo at least eight random drug tests in the first year to ensure compliance and prevent diversion.
• Take-home requirements: For the first 14 days, the supply is limited to a daily dose consumed on-site. After 90 days of compliance, take-home doses can increase gradually up to a 1-month supply.
• Monitoring: OTPs must have an interprofessional team including counseling and medical staff to manage dosing and coordinate care.
• Prescription drug monitoring: Clinicians should review the state’s PDMP data regularly to ensure safe opioid prescribing with other medications.

In Memphis, methadone is a Schedule II controlled prescription drug, with illegal possession penalized more severely under Tennessee and federal law.

Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research

Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947. Studies show it is an effective MAT option that reduces opioid use, disease transmission through injection, and drug-related crime when combined with counseling and social support.

Specifically, research found methadone treatment results in 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and a 4.44 times higher likelihood of staying in treatment compared to non-medication approaches. Retaining people in treatment is key to reducing overdose risk, HIV and hepatitis C transmission, and increasing employment.

However, methadone does carry risks including potential for misuse/diversion, severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly, QTc prolongation and cardiac issues, respiratory depression/overdose when combined with other sedatives, and neonatal abstinence syndrome if used in pregnancy. These require careful management by prescribers.

Overall, methadone is equally effective as buprenorphine, another MAT option, for reducing illicit opioid use and supporting recovery when properly regulated. However, oversight is critical to ensure patient safety.

Methadone is beneficial but also risky, requiring careful prescription monitoring and management.

About Memphis

Location, County & List of Neighboring States

Memphis is located in Shelby County in the southwest corner of Tennessee. Tennessee is bordered by 8 states: Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Capital and Largest City

Nashville is the capital and Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee.

Land Area

• Shelby County covers 755 square miles
• Tennessee covers 42,143 square miles

Infrastructure

• Main airport: Memphis International Airport
• Public transit: Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) bus system

Population Statistics

Total Population

• Memphis has a population of 651,073 (2020)
• Shelby County has a population of 936,759 (2020)
• Tennessee has a population of 6,910,840 (2021)

Demographics

Gender

• Memphis – 49.4% male, 50.6% female
• Tennessee – 49.1% male, 50.9% female

Age Brackets

The median age in Memphis is 34.9 years

Occupations

• Top occupations in Memphis:
• Office and administrative support
• Sales related
• Food preparation and serving
• Transportation
• Management