October Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee Meeting

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• Local Methadone Clinic Program OverviewMedication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a relatively new treatment option for people with opioid use disorder, but it has shown a lot of promise in reducing people’s risk of relapsing, and it tends to improve their long-term quality of life. At this month’s meeting, members from two different local methadone clinics gave an overview of MAT and how it has helped many people in our community in their journeys to recovery.
• Community Pathways and Bridge EffortsMedication Assisted Treatment continues to work successfully for many people recovering from opioid use disorder, but how does it actually work on a biological level, and what are the differences between the available medication options? At this month’s meeting, Dr. John Mahan gave an overview of the science behind MAT and also discussed what the recent surge in fentanyl use means for the treatment.
• Community-Wide Methadone ChallengesBecause Medication Assisted Treatment is still a relatively new treatment option, access to it can sometimes be complicated and highly restricted. At this month’s meeting, Jackson County Health and Human Service medical director Dr. Leona O’Keefe facilitated a discussion among LADPC members about barriers to MAT and what could potentially be changed to help make access to it easier for people who need it.