Methadone Treatment Waiting Lists: Affordable Treatment Options to Consider While Waiting

Today’s opiate addiction epidemic has created a growing demand for treatment services, so much so that methadone treatment waiting lists have become more so the norm than the exception. Those who most need methadone treatment tend to have long histories of opiate abuse, making the need for some form of treatment all the more critical.

Rather than run the risk of resuming opiate abuse, other affordable treatment options may be available to tide you over until an opening for methadone treatment becomes available. Ultimately, staying engaged in the treatment process while waiting offers you the best chance of a successful recovery.

The Need for Some Form of Treatment Help

Opiate addiction takes on a life of its own, having altered the brain’s chemical pathways and created an opiate-dependent environment inside the brain. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opiate addiction takes control of the body and the mind, leaving a person unable to cope with daily life stressors in the absence of the drug. These conditions drive compulsive-drug using behaviors and place addicts at increasing risk of overdose.

Affordability

12 step support groups are an effective option in helping you avoid opiate use.

Recent changes in healthcare law, namely the Affordable Care Act of 2014, have made substance abuse treatment a mandatory coverage benefit for standard health insurance plans. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, these changes impact any and all marketplace-based insurance plans, from individual and employer-sponsored polices to federal and state health programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Even in cases where a person doesn’t have insurance coverage, many methadone treatment programs still offer some type of payment arrangements.

For information on finding methadone treatment call 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) .

Alternative Methadone Treatment Options

Inpatient Stabilization Programs

Inpatient stabilization programs provide a highly structured treatment environment where patients receive treatment for both their medical and psychological needs as well as help with addiction. For people facing a high risk of continued opiate abuse and overdose, inpatient stabilization programs offer the level of treatment most needed to maintain abstinence.

Intensive Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs provide a range of services with treatment sessions taking place several times throughout the week, according to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. While these programs don’t offer a live-in treatment environment like inpatient programs, they do keep a person engaged in the treatment process while waiting to enter methadone treatment.

12 Step Support Groups

While not actual programs, 12 Step support groups can be a lifesaver when the urge to use opiates becomes overwhelming. In essence, these groups offer a safe environment where members can talk about the challenges they face and gain support and direction from one another. Twelve Step groups can also be a good resource for finding methadone treatment programs in your area.

What Should I Do While I’m on a Methadone Center Waitlist?

According to a study from the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, “Many methadone programs in the United States have waiting lists for care.” This is because of the high demand for these programs, the need for intense regulation of the drug itself, and the prevalence of opioid abuse in today’s society. If you ….

Find Help

While methadone treatment may be well worth the wait, staying engaged in some form of treatment is essential to your overall health and well-being. Finding affordable, alternative treatment options in the interim is definitely possible with a little legwork.

If you or someone you know are waiting to enter methadone treatment and need help now, please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) to speak with one of our addictions specialist.