One of the chief hurdles clients face in considering methadone treatment is how convenient it will be to get to the methadone clinic for daily dosing. Metropolitan areas traditionally have a timely bus system and access to taxis, but those in rural areas can often find themselves stuck in the country with no way to get to the clinic.
Family members and close friends often become part of the equation providing a daily ride until a client can earn methadone take home privileges. Some clients have their own car, but the cost of gas can be a detrimental factor. Clients with children and limited income, or with a verifiable disability, may be eligible for Medicaid transportation. Any person can apply for Medicaid benefits through their county Department of Social Services.
Attending a clinic session to dose with methadone is a “medical appointment” and generally covered under approved Medicaid services. At our clinic in North Carolina, a number of clients are brought each day to the clinic by Medicaid transportation in order to participate in their treatment.
Another factor to consider in utilizing a methadone clinic is the clinic’s designated dosing time. Some clinics provide a wide window of time in which you can arrive to be dosed. Other smaller clinics may have more restricted hours of operation. Consequently, a person may have to observe time carefully to make sure they arrive before closing time in order to dose. Many clinics will accommodate a late client if that client has a legitimate reason for arriving late and calls ahead before closing time to inform the clinic nurse of their dilemma. However, it is always best to consult first with clinic staff to learn of their policy on arriving late and late dosing.
Interested in more information on methadone? Try our Q & A methadone information page!
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In browsing articles on current methadone treatment, I came across a brief one in the United Kingdom’s 
A majority of clients who enter methadone programs do so without immediate family involvement in the admissions process. Often, a significant other knows of their loved one’s decision to enter treatment, but chooses to remain “on the outside”. There are several reasons for this including: apprehension about methadone clinics, feelings of embarrassment that their loved one has an opioid addiction, not wanting to invest time in the recovery process, or simply being too busy to spare the time.
A methadone clinic where I work has received a surge in calls from prospective clients who are interested in methadone to deal with their opioid addiction. We typically perform a telephone triage when someone calls, which is a sort of mini assessment to determine what services a client may be eligible for. After completing this brief telephone interview, we then offer recommendations which may include potential admission to our clinic for methadone treatment.
Since launching Methadone.US earlier in the year, I have received daily questions & requests from site visitors in regard to methadone services and methadone treatment referrals. Some inquiries pertain to the benefits of Suboxone (buprenorphine) although the majority pertain to methadone medication specifically.
