National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
June 14, 2004
Contact:
Joycelyn Sue Woods, M.A., C.M.A., President
Phone/Fax (212) 595-NAMA/6262
Walter Ginter, C.M.A., Vice President
Phone (203) 233-8266
In a few days the first proposals requesting funds from President Bush’s One Hundred Million Dollar Access to Recovery Program are due in Washington. The purpose of these grants is to expand drug treatment and recovery services. This new initiative reflects the new attitude policy makers have towards drug dependent individuals by empowering consumers with their choice to select treatment. Each person seeking help will be given a voucher by his or her state to use in any program that is authorized. Only about fifteen states will be given these grants and presently no one knows which states they will be.
As advocates we need to make sure that medication assisted treatment is included in the services that will be made available. Last summer, NAMA President Joycelyn Woods and Vice President Walter Ginter met with Dr. Andrea Barthwell, of the ONDCP, about this program. Dr. Barthwell assured NAMA that only states that included methadone treatment would be considered for the voucher program. While we are convinced that she was sincere often bureaucracy and politics at the national level can result in unintended consequences. For example, a simple comparison of Congressional leadership and which the states to this day still do not have the most effective treatment for opioid dependence make it is easy to see what can happen. To insure that methadone and medication assisted treatment is included now is time for us to act!
It is important that every advocate send a letter or fax to their states’ office of alcohol and addiction treatment and inquire if: (1) they are applying for Access to Recovery funds, (2) if so can the voucher be used to access methadone or buprenorphine treatment, and (3) exactly what services can be accessed in your state. States that still do not have methadone treatment can be asked when medication assisted treatment will be implemented.
In your letter tell them you are a patient, or an advocate, or both. And most important tell them how important medication assisted treatment is to opiate dependent persons in your state who are not able to access treatment. It is better if you write a letter or fax rather then an email. But all three would be even better.
Send a copy of your correspondence to NAMA. And it would be most appreciated if you would send us a copy of any responses that you receive.
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