What Should I Do If My Clinic Will Be Closed for the Day?
There are some instances where, for a holiday, an emergency, or another specific situation, methadone clinics may be closed for the day. Because “single oral doses are administered daily under observation at a licensed clinic,” according to the National Institute of Justice, this is an instance patients need to plan for ahead of time.
Know Your Clinic’s Schedule
Your clinic will likely have its schedule posted for patients to see. This is important to pay attention to because days where methadone clinics are closed should be planned for in advance. If you do not see a schedule posted, ask the receptionist if there are certain days where the clinic will definitely be closed. Now you can begin to prepare for these days and to know what to expect.
Ask Your Doctor About Take-Home Doses
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “In the United States, methadone is typically provided in highly regulated clinics that patients initially have to visit each day to receive their dose; only after several months of adherence to the clinic’s regulations are patients allowed to take home a supply of methadone.” However, during a closed day for the clinic, the treatment may be administered differently to ensure that patients do not go without.
Ask your doctor about take-home doses, especially when you know the clinic will be closed for a specific day. Plan out how much you will need with your doctor to ensure that you are not without the medication you need and make sure you are both comfortable with the dosage amount.
Find Support
If you or someone you love is addicted to an opiate and currently taking methadone or considering methadone maintenance treatment, call 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) for assistance. Get help finding an open clinic in your area, choosing a methadone doctor, or determining what the best course of action for treatment is for your individual needs.