Methadone Clinics in Tyler

Rules and Regulations

Tyler, Smith County, Texas adheres to strict federal and state regulations regarding methadone clinics, outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Certification Procedures

• Clinics must be certified by SAMHSA
• Staff must meet educational and licensing requirements
• Regular patient drug testing and counseling are mandated

Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment

Methadone and other medications used in treatment can:

• Reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• Allow people to focus on their recovery and rebuilding their lives
• Lower the risk of overdose death

How Clinics Operate

Methadone clinics provide daily doses of methadone or other medications to treat opioid addiction. Services offered include:

• Screening and intake
• Dosing and monitoring
• Individual and group counseling
• Referrals for wraparound services like medical care and job training

Insurance Coverage

Public and private insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, typically cover methadone treatment. Some clinics offer treatment on a sliding scale based on income for those without coverage.

Drug Use in Tyler

The opioid crisis has been declared a nationwide public health emergency. In Texas, drug overdose deaths have increased across all drug categories from 1999 to 2017.

• Opioid-involved deaths in Texas rose nearly 4-fold from 1999 (143 deaths) to 2017 (1,458 deaths)
• Prescription opioids remain widely misused, with hydrocodone, oxycodone, and methadone most commonly involved in overdose deaths

Addiction Treatment Overview

Inpatient Treatment

• Average length of stay 30-90 days
• Detoxification, counseling, skills training, medication management

Outpatient Treatment

• 1-5 visits per week for counseling, support groups, case management
• Local clinics, private practices, hospital programs

Treatment Level Unreported

• A significant portion of patients do not report treatment level
• An estimated 30-40% are in outpatient programs

Comparison of Tyler to Dallas

Methadone Treatment

What is Methadone

Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. It is part of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) that provide comprehensive treatment including counseling and support services in addition to methadone dosing.

Methadone activates the opioid receptors in the brain, reducing opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This allows patients to focus on recovery without experiencing severe discomfort from opioid withdrawal.

Many still view methadone treatment negatively, but research shows it helps patients reduce or stop opioid misuse, improve social functioning, and reduce the transmission of infectious diseases associated with injection drug use when combined with counseling.

Methadone Distribution

Methadone distribution is highly regulated with frequent patient monitoring to reduce misuse and diversion:

• Urine Testing: Patients must undergo at least eight urine drug tests in the first year to ensure compliance and detect additional substance use.
• Take-Home Doses: For the first 14 days, patients must take daily doses on-site. As patients demonstrate progress, take-home doses are increased incrementally up to a 1-month supply for stable patients.
• Interprofessional Teams: OTPs have counselors, nurses, and doctors monitoring patient progress.
• Prescription Drug Monitoring: Clinicians should review state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data to carefully coordinate methadone dosing with other medications due to potentially dangerous drug interactions.

According to Tyler PDMP data, methadone accounted for just 2% of dispensed opioid prescriptions in Smith County, Texas last year.

Methadone Treatment Effectiveness Research

Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction since 1947. Studies show it is an extremely effective MAT option.

Evidence for Effectiveness

Multiple studies demonstrate methadone’s benefits for treating opioid addiction:

• 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests for methadone patients
• 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to non-medication treatments
• Retention in treatment reduces overdose risk and infectious disease transmission while improving employment opportunities

Major Drawbacks

However, methadone does carry risks:

• Potential for misuse/diversion
• Severe withdrawal if stopped suddenly
• Can prolong the QT interval on EKGs, increasing the risk of cardiac issues
• Respiratory depression and overdose when combined with other substances

Comparison to Other Medications

Research shows methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective in reducing opioid use.

Benefits but also risks requiring careful management.

About Tyler

Location, County & List of Neighboring States

Tyler is located in Smith County in east Texas, USA. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, and the state of Texas borders New Mexico to the west.

Neighboring states: Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico

Capital and Largest City

Tyler is the county seat of Smith County. With an estimated population of just over 100,000 as of 2019, Tyler is the largest city in Smith County.

Land Area

Tyler covers approximately 54.4 square miles of land area.

Infrastructure

Tyler is served by Tyler Pounds Regional Airport and has access to Interstates 20 and 69 plus other major highways. Public transportation includes Tyler Transit as well as Amtrak railway service.

Population Statistics

Total Population

The population of Tyler was estimated at 104,991 people in 2019 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Demographics:

Gender

• Male: 49.7%
• Female: 50.3%

Age Brackets

• Under 5 years: 7.2%
• Under 18 years: 25.4%
• 65 years and over: 12.9%

Occupations

Major industries providing employment in Tyler include healthcare, retail trade, manufacturing, accommodation and food services, and construction.