Services Offered at Methadone Clinics

People tend to complain about traveling to a clinic every day to take methadone, but regular contact with clinic professionals and the use of clinic services has real advantages.

Methadone clinics today function as a central care facility for their patients, doing far more than simply supervising the taking of a medication. Through involvement in a methadone clinic, people gain access to a host of social and medical services that are designed to increase quality of life and decrease the risks of relapse into opiate abuse.

Not all clinics will offer all of the services listed below, but most clinics do offer an extensive array of health and social services to their client populations.

Services Available at Methadone Clinics

Medication

Methadone clinics obviously provide and supervise the consumption of methadone, but clinic doctors can prescribe other medications as necessary.

Counseling

Studies prove that methadone maintenance works best when coupled with a long-term involvement with addiction treatments, such as counseling. Most methadone clinics will offer, or even mandate participation in, group and individual counseling sessions.

All patients will receive a comprehensive initial assessment and will work with a counselor to develop an individualized treatment plan that will evolve and change as needed over the course of treatment.
 
Methadone Anonymous Meetings

For convenience, MA and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings are frequently held in methadone clinics.

Advocacy Services

Methadone clinic case workers can help recovering opiate addicts navigate the legal system, get due benefits, reunite with estranged children, secure housing, and find employment.

Health Care Services

Methadone patients generally undergo a physical examination and evaluation prior to starting the treatment. Medical staff will test for HIV, Hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and other infectious disease, and clients will receive referrals into the health care system as necessary.

Pregnant women will receive appropriate treatment and referrals for obstetric services.

Health education services teach disease harm reduction strategies as well as general health improvement and nutrition.

Mental Health Services

All methadone maintenance patients are assessed for mental health problems, and (when necessary) doctors will coordinate the use of mental health medications with methadone.

Patients in need of mental health services beyond the scope of those offered at a methadone clinic will be referred to appropriate community providers.

Education Services

Many clinics offer remedial education services and testing, GED preparation, and college placement assistance. Other services for those in the work force can include job training, resume help, and referrals to training programs.

HIV Services

Services for HIV-positive patients can include counseling, support groups, and referrals.