Three weeks after opening, the Rockland methadone clinic is treating 40 to 50 patients, some of whom were previously traveling to Portland for treatment.
 |
| Dan Mahoney, program director at Turning Tide, stands in the doorway of the methadone clinic on New County Road in Rockland. (Photo by Shlomit Auciello) |
The clinic, in the building formerly occupied by Tuttle's Shoe Barn, contains a reception area, waiting room, pharmacy and dosage area, doctor's office, and conference room.
"Since many patients refer themselves for treatment, all first visits comprise insurance and medical screenings and counseling to review biological and psychological conditions to ensure that the therapy is appropriate for them," said Dan Mahoney, Turning Tide's program director.
MaineCare and Aetna cover methadone treatment in Maine, with some patients paying out-of-pocket for the medication. Costs range between $95 per week for self-paying patients and $78 per week plus a $2 co-pay for services covered by MaineCare.
Once medical and administrative staff have cleared patients, they are scheduled for treatment, which usually begins within two to three days.
During the second visit, patients have blood drawn to check for drugs and medical issues such as heart conditions, diabetes and communicable diseases. They may also receive tests that include an electrocardiogram or tuberculosis testing.
For many of Turning Tide's clients, this visit may be the first medical exam in years and clinic staff often refer patients for further testing and consultation with off-site professionals.
After seeing the medical staff, patients go to a waiting room where they will be called when their methadone doses are ready. Methadone, a synthetic narcotic, is therapy for addicts whose habits have exhausted the areas of the brain most sensitive to opiates and who therefore rely on powerful methadone to achieve normalcy in daily life, according to Mahoney.
When their turns come, patients line up in the corridor outside the treatment area. This area is monitored by a video camera that allows pharmacy staff to see the waiting patients.
The nurse admits patients to the treatment area, two at a time. At the pharmacy window each patient is given a dose of liquid methadone appropriate to his or her medical history, which is combined with an orange-flavored drink to make it more palatable. While the patient is taking the dose, the nurse evaluates the patient's mental status. If there are no concerns, the patient leaves the clinic after taking the medication.
About once a month, patients are subject to random urine analysis. These samples, as well as blood samples, are tested off site, although "dip tests" can be performed at the clinic if a patient appears impaired.
Treatment at Turning Tide includes group counseling, starting with sessions designed to educate patients about the medical details of their addiction and treatment. As treatment continues, group sessions focus on what Mahoney calls the "bio-psycho-social-spiritual" aspects of recovery.
For most patients, methadone therapy is a lifelong process. Citing the rise in younger addicts, however, Mahoney suggests that new data need to be gathered. In his five and a half years working in methadone clinics, he has seen patients who were able to "titrate off" or adjust their dosages downward until they could live without the medication.
Methadone therapy is voluntary, by federal law, and neither the courts nor medical personnel can mandate treatment. In a 20-mile radius of Turning Tide, Mahoney estimates there are two or three medical practices that support those undergoing this type of addiction care. "Some doctors are not user-friendly," he said. Mahoney said he continues to work to build relationships with the local medical community.
Security at the clinic is high, with coded locks at the outer doors, the entry to the pharmacy, and on the safe that holds the medications within the pharmacy. Security staff are on site when the clinic is open and all alarms, including a motion detector, are set when the building is closed for the day.
Mahoney stressed that methadone is not safe for non-addicts, saying that it can be fatal for someone who has no history of opiate abuse to take the medication.
Turning Tide is open for patients Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 10 a.m. and Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 7 to 9 a.m. Comments; I wish the staff and patients good luck in their new endevor. It was a long hard road. Congratulations!
No comments:
Post a Comment