Are Free Methadone Clinics Worth the Time?

For people coming off chronic opiate addictions, methadone treatment provides the needed supports for maintaining abstinence on a long-term basis. While effective, methadone treatment costs money, which can be a big obstacle to getting treatment help.

Free methadone clinics provide the same types of services as other methadone-based programs to a certain extent. The limited funding these programs receive no doubt has bearing on their ability to deliver top-notch care.

According to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, most all rehab programs, whether free or paid, receive some level of funding from outside sources, with free methadone clinics funded primarily by government-based sources. While free options do exist, the range of insurance options now available today make it possible to receive treatment from for-pay and even luxury programs when free methadone clinic options are lacking.

Methadone Treatment Services

Free clinics may fall short in addressing all of your medical needs.

Methadone treatment services encompass a range of interventions, all of which work to address the physical and psychological aftereffects of opiate addiction. Methadone, a treatment drug that targets opiate-damaged cells in the brain, supports normal neurotransmitter secretion rates while restoring a normal chemical balance in the brain.

Treatment services also include behavior-based interventions, such as psychotherapy, relapse prevention training and support group work, all of which help recovering addicts develop a drug-free mindset while learning healthy ways of coping with daily life pressures.

If you’re considering treatment and you’re not sure if your insurance will cover your treatment costs, call our helpline at 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) for more information.

Free Methadone Clinics vs. Pay-Based Programs

As one of the most heavily regulated treatment methods in existence, methadone treatment centers around the effects of methadone as a therapeutic agent. According to Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, federal regulations dictate treatment protocols, dosing schedules as well as the tapering process.

In this respect, free methadone clinics must adhere to the same standards of care as any other type of facility. Since free programs operate under limited financial resources, the majority of free clinics can only offer the bare minimums in terms of services and accommodations.

For people who’ve developed chronic medical or psychological disorders on top of severe opiate addiction, bare minimums may fall short when it comes to addressing these treatment needs.

Free Methadone Clinic Waiting Lists & How Can I Get Help Now?

Instead of waiting for a free methadone clinic, consider your other treatment options that could prove even more beneficial.

Cost Considerations

While free methadone clinics do serve a definite need for cost-free services, changes in federal health care law have made it possible for most anybody to obtain health insurance that covers a good portion of methadone treatment costs. According to MentalHealth.gov, the Affordable Care Act of 2008 requires all marketplace insurers to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment insurance coverage at the same level as other forms of medical care.

Free Methadone Clinic Alternatives

The availability of health care coverage offers you a range of alternative treatment options, such as inpatient, residential-based and luxury-type methadone programs. As free methadone clinics often have extremely long waiting lists, alternative program options are definitely worth considering.

If you or someone you know are considering methadone treatment and need help finding a program that meets your needs, please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) to speak with one of our addiction specialists.