Methadone Advocacy: The Time Has Come
There are many approaches that a methadone advocacy organization can utilize to bring about change. TexNAMA’s primary objective (as part of NAMA) is the empowerment of patients. By confronting the negative stereotypes TexNAMA works to end the stigma and discrimination that has made recovery and reintegration back into society far more difficult for methadone patients.
TexNAMA strives to improve treatment and to make recovery the positive experience that Drs. Dole and Nyswander intended it to be.
Methadone Advocacy brings a sense of community and commitment to patients and staff. This is a very important aspect of recovery that has been missing from methadone treatment. The early methadone patients had a feeling of belonging to a community which engenders responsibility to self and others. They felt a sense of ownership towards the program and were proud to be a patient in it. But as methadone treatment expanded the sense of community was lost; now patients stand in line to be medicated, wait to see their counselor and have become somthing to be done to not to work with. Through the accomplisments, as a NAMA affiliate, methadone patients have begun to rebuild their community into a powerful national network.
Together we can make a difference. Together we are making a difference!
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