Analysis: The so‐called ‘Freedom Model’ of addiction treatment

The below comments were originally posted, in shortened form, on the Facebook Broken No More page. We asked the author to revise for ADAW, and he did. He refers to the article “Widespread Use of Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) Has Not Resulted in Less Overdoses” (and we resisted the almost overwhelming temptation to change “less” to “fewer”). For the article, go to https://www.thefreedommodel.org/suboxone‐has‐not‐reduced‐deaths‐in‐the‐us/ .     

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IOM Recommendations for Benefits Package: Affordability First San Diego Center Ties its Future to Non‐Government Funding Sources Washington Proposes Eliminating All Adult SA Treatment Average Time From First Use to Treatment Admission: 15.6 Years The Word ‘Recovery’ Belongs With Chemical Dependency Former Vivitrol Patients Sought by Other Mass. Programs Briefly Noted Coming up     

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California OIG Blasts In‐Prison Treatment as a Waste of Money Leadership Change at Phoenix House Signals New Growth, National Influence New Head of ADP is Renee Zito AATOD Seeks Reconvening of Federal Opioid Treatment Panel NAATP Salary Survey Released: Resource for HR Directors Reader Responds to ADAW Article About Budget Coming up     

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Providers Ready for Parity Battle as Final Rule Effective Date Nears Many Market Factors Contribute to High Interest in Accreditation McLellan on the State of Evidence‐Based Treatment Letter to the Editor State Comptroller Rebukes OASAS for Questionable Payments Coming up     

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Schick Shadel Making a Comeback in New Era of Medicine‐Based Treatment State Grant Restores Bed Capacity at Indiana Community‐Based Center ASAM Admits Error in Omitting NIAAA in Definition Publicity Addiction Medicine a Medical Specialty? Honoring Betty Ford's Vision Pay Per Click: Using Search Engine Marketing to Attract Patients Letter to the Editor Briefly Noted In the States Resources Names in the News Coming up     

NAATP members are still open,but organization is concerned

Treatment centers are small businesses, with payrolls to meet and rent to pay, like all small businesses. And even if they are protected in terms of not being required to shut down, they are losing patients as a result of COVID‐19. Patients left against medical advice, Mark Dunn, director of public policy with the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), told ADAW last week. New admissions have dwindled to nothing.     

NAATP releases 3‐year pilot outcomes report

Last week, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) released the results of its three‐year Outcomes Pilot Program, in which eight pilot sites tested out a method for a standardized outcomes tracking tool. The project was a success, said NAATP Executive Director Marvin Ventrell on March 12. The project resulted in the Outcomes Measurement Toolkit: The Addiction Treatment Provider Guide to Standardized Outcomes Measurement, which NAATP members can start using now.     

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Buprenorphine a Focus of Hearing on Government Support for Medications New Wrinkle in Drug Testing Debate: Hatch Proposes Screening the Unemployed Pennsylvania May Limit Methadone Treatment to One Year Letter to the Editor Parity Wins, Carve‐Outs Lose in Federal Court Ruling Briefly Noted Names in the News Resources Coming up     

Cognitive‐behavioral bibliotherapy for sexual dysfunctions in heterosexual couples: A randomized waiting‐list controlled clinical trial in the Netherlands

In a randomized waiting‐list controlled clinical trial cognitive‐behavioral bibliotherapy was investigated in heterosexual couples with sexual dysfunctions. After a 10‐week treatment participants (N = 199 couples) reported fewer complaints of low frequency of sexual interaction and general improvement of their sexual problem, and lower male posttreatment ratings of problem‐associated distress. At follow‐up gains with respect to frequency of sex and problem‐associated distress had eroded. Female participants with vaginismus posttreatment reported less complaints of vaginismus. However, female participants with dyspareunia reported more complaints of vaginal discomfort. These differences were maintained at follow‐up. An “intention‐to‐treat” analysis showed that the effects were robust to participant attrition. Treatment compliance was positively associated with outcome in females at posttreatment.     

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New York Uses New Billing System to Improve Outpatient Treatment More Collaboration With SSAs Sought in Drug Court Program Development HIT Privacy Expert on Why Regs Are Not Enough Study Shows HIV Meds Don't Increase Drug Users' Risky Behavior ACLU Lawsuit Threat Halts Housing Drug‐Test Idea Letter to the Editor Briefly Noted In the States Coming Up     

‘Cash‐only’ buprenorphine a threat to opioid crisis

In an editorial written by the principal researcher on the clinical trials that led to the approval of buprenorphine‐naloxone to treat opioid use disorder, the increase in cash‐only buprenorphine clinics is called a threat to the opioid treatment system. “Proliferation of Cash‐Only Buprenorphine Treatment Clinics: A Threat to the Nation's Response to the Opioid Crisis,” by Art Van Zee, M.D., of the St. Charles Clinic, Stone Mountain Health Services, and David Fiellin, M.D., of the Yale University School of Medicine, was published in the March issue of the American Journal of Public Health.     

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Off‐Label Use of Buprenorphine for Pain Worries Officials Growing Number of Programs Add Legitimacy to Sex Addiction Treatment Painkillers, Tranquilizers Account for Rise in Drug Use by Troops Addiction Drug Market ‘Underexploited,’ Should Focus on Cure, Says Report CAARR Responds to From the Field Article on Calif. Licensing Bill Briefly Noted State News Call for Applications Coming up     

Saffron as good as methylphenidate in treating ADHD

Short‐term treatment with saffron — which comes from the crocus plant and is known to cooks as one of the most important and expensive ingredients of various dishes — is as effective in treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as methylphenidate, researchers have found in one small trial. The study, “Crocus sativus L. Versus Methylphenidate in Treatment of Children with Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized Double‐Blind Pilot Study,” was published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Methylphenidate is a controlled substance, a stimulant with addictive properties.     

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SAMHSA Pushes SBI to Address Baby‐Boomer Drug Use Prosecutor Leadership, Coordination Contribute to S.D. Reentry Strides Drug Could Increase Drinking but Reduce Other Problems NIAAA's Drug Development Goes Beyond Alcohol Problems ADAW Wins Journalism Awards for Parity and State Budget Watch Stories Illinois Treatment Providers Have Backlog of Unpaid Claims Congratulations! Briefly Noted State News Call for Applications Coming up     

Toolkit for MAT in jails and prisons from the National Council

The National Council for Behavioral Health has prepared a comprehensive and timely toolkit, Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Jails and Prisons. The 132‐page manual, a copy of which was obtained by ADAW, was written in conjunction with Vital Strategies. It was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and headed up by Shannon Mace, senior practice improvement advisor for the National Council.     

Letter to the Editor

In “COMBINE follow‐up: Some heavy use of alcohol compatible with recovery” (see ADAW, Aug. 17, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32806 ), we wrote about a study by Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, showing that some people can be in recovery but still drink heavily. We received the following commentary from Annie Peters, Ph.D., director of research and education at the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).     

Efficacy of group therapy for problems with postmastectomy self‐perception,body image,and sexuality

Until very recently, the sexual and body image problems of women treated for breast cancer by surgical removal of the breast were ignored by physicians and therapists. Postmastectomy women (N = 62) and non‐mastectomy women (N = 51) were compared on self‐image and sexuality, positive affect, autonomy, self‐sacrifice, and body touching. Additionally, mastectomees were tested three times over 12 months to evaluate the efficacy of group therapy for postmastectomy women. Prior to group therapy, baseline data indicated that, compared to nonmastec‐tomy women, mastectomees had a significantly different body image and lower sexual adjustment. Specifically there was marked dislike for the amputated breast region and diminished pleasure in self‐touching of the remaining breast. Positive affect and sexual receptivity for both the mastectomee and her partner were perceived to be adversely affected. These effects were not related to age, marital status, or elapsed time since mastectomy. Treatment significantly improved positive affect and sexual adjustment but did not improve attitude toward the amputated breast region or increase the range or frequency of sexual activity and sexual receptivity.     

NASADAD pushes block‐grant increase for stimulus 4 bill

The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) last week wrote to Sen. Patty Murray (D‐ Washington) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R‐Missouri), the Senate co‐chairs of the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, asking specifically for the $1.5 billion in supplemental funding as provided by the House in the HEROES Act for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grant (see “Proposed bill for HEROES Act would give $1.5 billion to SAPT block grant,” ADAW, May 18, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32722 ).     

NAATP keeps focus on parity

We need to move beyond the principle of parity into the practice of parity.” These words from Mark Dunn, director of public policy for the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), in an interview with ADAW last week are a sign of the frustration with how parity — the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which guarantees that substance use disorders (SUDs) will be treated no differently from medical and surgical claims in the world of reimbursement — has been a real‐world disappointment to patients and providers alike.