|
|
Ted
Parran, M.D., medical director of the Case Western
Reserve University School of Medicine,
responds to a question during
his Aug. 17 presentation.
|
|
Making the Case
for Medication to Fight Heroin Addiction
By Stephanie Beougher
August 21, 2015
National and state policymakers came together to discuss how to safely
incorporate the use of medication assisted treatment in drug courts.
The Medication Assisted Treatment Forum was hosted by the Ohio Supreme
Court Office of Court Services Specialized Dockets Section at the
Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center on Aug. 17-18. The event brought
together Ohio judges, state policymakers, physicians, and treatment
professionals to meet with federal agencies and health organizations to
discuss medication assisted treatment as an essential intervention for
people addicted to prescription opiates or heroin.
The meeting focused on:
Educating Ohio judicial and treatment leaders about
the role of medication assisted treatment in the criminal justice
system.
Developing written guidance on the use of medication
in drug court.
Identifying additional work that needs to be
completed to make sure medications can be used in a fully-accountable
manner.
“Everyone in this room understands that helping those with opiate
addiction is a challenging and complex undertaking,” Chief Justice
Maureen O’Connor commented during opening remarks. “This work is
critically important not just to the people in addiction’s grip but to
their families and to their communities as well. This is a statewide
and national problem that crosses jurisdictions. That’s why I’m pleased
to see the various partners involved.”
“This type of treatment is not always available to drug court
participants. When it is, there are often restrictions on the
medication type, length of treatment, and dose strength that cause
unnecessary relapses and treatment failures,” Supreme Court Judicial
Services Division Director Milt Nuzum said. “By bringing this diverse
group together, we’ve created an opportunity to explain why medication
assisted treatment is important and what needs to be done to make it
available to Ohioans who are struggling with addiction.”
Among the participants were representatives from the Ohio Department of
Mental Health and Addiction Services, Ohio Department of Medicaid, Ohio
Department of Health, Office of National Drug Control Policy, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, and Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration.
|
|
|
|
