WHAT'S WRONG WITH "FOR PROFIT"?
An article in the Bangor (Maine) Daily News on 6 March is headline, ”Ellsworth eyes methadone moratorium.” It is disheartening to read the view attributed in the article to Sheriff Clark that methadone treatment is “just substituting one drug for another.” More than 40 years of consistent reports from around the world have documented the efficacy of methadone in the treatment of opiate dependence; it reduces crime, enhances productive and healthy living, benefits the general community and saves lives. It has been endorsed for decades by the US government, the World Health Organization and countless governmental, academic and clinical authorities.
The report states that the Sheriff also had “another problem,” the fact that many methadone providers are “for-profit operations.” Similar attacks on methadone facilities - especially those still in the proposal/application process - have been heard for decades across the United States. One can only respond: Welcome to America! We enjoy some of the very best health services anywhere, and of course the entire foundation – from insurance to providers of care – is overwhelmingly “for-profit.” Is it possible that the Sheriff and others who voice similar objections really have a problem with this defining characteristic of the American way?
posted by RGNewman, MD @ 10:12 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
It is a shame that people have to get in the business of providing methadone to people who have a problem with opiete dependance, and wish to make a profit from it.
It's wrong and I will tell why. With treating opiete addiction it requries professional help counselors and social worker who have an understanding of this illness and can provide therapy and counseling to help them find another way of life, free from drug addiction. This takes caring and the love of helping people who want to help and not the bottom line kind of corprate money hungrey profit making none social services minded professional and those how have some prior concept of the illness of addiction.
I wish there were some way, in AMERICA, home of capitalism, to provide the services Anonymous and so many others need, FOR FREE. Most people who enter the healthcare or human servics field are compassionate "caretakers" to begin with, but the education and/or training necessary to help people professionally is not free, neither are the other requirements to provide the help: buildings, supplies, utilities, support staff, medication, laboratory services, etc. Most Americans do not expect their family doctor to treat thier illnesses at no cost. Why do methadone patients feel their illness is different? Believe me, I HATE the healthcare system in this country, but to insult ALL methadone providers because of some that ARE careless is not fair.
there should be no profit in methadone dispensing its the cheepest of all narcotics used for pain and detox its like i hate to say it but the price should be regulated by the goverment i hate the gov getting involved but who will stop places from taking advantage from junkies or people needing this drug!! these people using it dont have much money!
The Sheriff is not alone in this way of thinking nor is he to blame for it. It is the medical community that really has to carry this blame for not providing adequate public education for the Sheriff and others who do not quite understand what is addiction and the role of methadone in treating it. That same way of thinking is whats keeping the price of recovery so high. State programs are packed and understaffed while private program have to retain a large amount of staff in order to comply with the laws and regulations. This is expensive and trickles back down to the patients. Is addiction a disease? please post your reply to http://bupworks2.blogspot.com/
This whole friction in profit vs. not-for-profit is the result of the condition the US created ourselves. By limiting the use of the most effective approach science has developed for treating opiate addiction to heavily regulated clinics is to shot ourselves in the foot.
Why not allow all physicians to prescribe methadone, a very cheap medicine (~$0.50/100 mgs), for their opiate addicted patients and, very quickly we would make the biggest dent in heroin-related problems in our history for no government money.
I believe many people would be very ready to pay the minimal money for this medicine -- with hopefully affordable doctor charges -- in order to get freedom from addictive use of heroin.
Thankfully, a perfect antidote exists for opiate intoxication in naloxone which is also a generic medicine and should be an inseparable part of any opiate prescription in case poisoning occurs.
This approach would then end the bias that has stigmatized both people with opiate addictions and handcuffed caregivers for the last 50 years!
Wake up USA!!! Get, and give, a life!!!
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