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Federal Regulations for Methadone Treatment

Methadone is a medication used to treat opiate addiction. The rules governing the use of methadone in treating addiction changed as of May 18, 2001. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has set forth new regulations regarding the use of methadone by clinics to treat substance abuse.

  1. Criteria for Home Treatment

    • To receive methadone to take home and use unsupervised, the patient must adhere to the following criteria: no recent drug use, regular attendance at the clinic, no behavioral problems or criminal activity, stable home environment and pledge to keep the medication safely stored. The patient must have also spent a specific amount of time in treatment.

    Approved Forms

    • Patients take oral medications in liquid form unless they're prescribed extended take-home doses. In this case, the clinic dispenses a multidose tablet diskette to protect the integrity of the medication. The pill form also prevents the intravenous use of the drug in patients approved for extended dosages.

    Local Laws

    • State laws usurp the new federal regulations if they're more stringent than the guidelines. The federal guidelines are a minimum standard of treatment and control.

    Reporting Responsibilities

    • Clinics no longer have to report patients who're receiving higher than 100 mg for take-home treatment as long as they meet the initial criteria.

    Drug Test Requirements

    • Patients receiving methadone treatments must submit to eight random drug tests per year to remain on the program. Patients with 30 days or less in treatment must submit to at least one drug test during those first 30 days.

    More Information

    • These aren't all the regulations associated with using methadone for treating opiate addiction. For more information, please visit www.dpt.samhsa.gov.

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