Regulatory Approval and Compliance
Compliance with state, local, and federal regulations is critical to the successful operation and therefore has a priority in operating procedures. Treatment facilities are required to have several types of licensing which includes various types of business licenses in addition to licensure, registration, or approval from the following:
· Council on Accreditation (COA)
· California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
· Drug Enforcement Administration/DEA
· Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration/SAMHSA
· Center for Substance Abuse Treatment/CSAT
In 2013, an estimated 1.8 million people had an opioid use disorder related to prescription pain relievers, and about 517,000 had an opioid use disorder related to heroin use.
MAT has proven to be clinically effective and to significantly reduce the need for inpatient detoxification or residential treatment services which are often times unsuccessful. MAT provides a more comprehensive, individually tailored program of treatment. MAT also includes biopsychosocial support services that address the needs of most patients. The ultimate goal of MAT is full recovery, including the ability to live a self-directed life. This treatment approach has been shown to:
- Improve patient survival
- Increase retention in treatment/positive treatment outcomes
- Decrease illicit opiate use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders
- Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment
- Improve birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders and are pregnant
Research also shows that these medications and therapies can contribute to lowering a person’s risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis C by reducing the potential for relapse.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and therapeutic interventions, to provide a patient focused approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.
Medications used in MAT are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and MAT programs are clinically driven and tailored to meet each patient’s needs. MAT is primarily used for the treatment of addiction to opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relievers. Research shows that a combination of medication and therapy can successfully treat these disorders.
Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) provide MAT for individuals diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. OTPs also provide a range of services to reduce, eliminate, or prevent the use of illicit drugs, potential criminal activity, and/or the spread of infectious disease. OTPs focus on improving the quality of life of those receiving treatment.
A common misconception associated with MAT is that it supports substituting one drug for another. Instead, these medications relieve the withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings that cause chemical imbalances in the body. MAT programs provide a safe and controlled level of medication to overcome the use of an abused opioid. Research has shown that when provided at the proper dose, medications used in MAT have no adverse effects on a person’s intelligence, mental capability, physical functioning, or employability.
