CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — As National Recovery Month comes to an end, October brings a big change for those prescribed the drug methadone as treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
Starting Oct. 2, qualifying patients can be prescribed 28 days worth of the drug, which is a major update from clients needing to go to the clinic daily or weekly for treatment.
Although the change was previewed by some clinics during the pandemic to limit patient exposure, the federal rule will be officially mandated Wednesday.
South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Services (STSARS) Opiate Addiction Recovery Program Director Taze Vandever said local clinics are already ahead of the curve.
"We started implementing that months ago and we have over 200 patients now who have 28-day take homes and it has drastically benefited them," Vandever said.
While the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse - Coastal Bend does not administer methadone directly, they do work closely with the STSARS.
"Whenever their clients have come for methadone treatment, or even other facilities, they'll refer them to us so we can help them get into intensive out patient treatment with us" Community Relations Director Kaylynn Thompson said
With more clinics now having to alter their guidelines, that sends a ripple effect back to the council.
"I think that with the higher doses coming, because we have such a good relationship with STSARS and the clinics around here that are administering that, they know who we are, and they're going to refer their clients to us," she said. "I do believe that there will be an influx of individuals looking for more services and we will happily take them all."