Drug Treatment Centers Need Additional Services

MODESTO, Calif. - May 2, 2018 - PRLog -- Stanislaus County government officials wish to expand drug treatment centers that offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for Modesto residents. Supervisor Jim DeMartini said its the county's duty to treat its people instead of sending them to nearby counties for treatment.

According to the California Opioid Overdose Surveillance Dashboard, nearly 568,000 opioid prescriptions were written by Stanislaus county physicians in 2016. Government officials will require all state doctors to consult the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System in 2019 to prevent patients from doctor shopping for pills.

California remains one of the few states with limited MAT services for patients with substance use disorders in rural areas.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's facility locator, only two of Modesto's 16 treatment centers are licensed methadone clinics. Many patients have to instead travel out of county to Stockton or Madera for treatment.

City and county government support and limited funding are two reasons hindering the expansion of drug treatment centers.

https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2018/05/01/drug-treatmen...