Medically-Assisted Opiate Treatment

Meridian Services, Inc. is one of only nine organizations in the State of Ohio certified to provide Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) with Methadone. This type of treatment is appropriate for people who are addicted to opiates such as heroin, morphine or prescription medications. All patients must adhere to random urine drug screens, counseling sessions and other recovery activities as determined by a licensed counselor.

What is Methadone?

Methadone treatment has been available for over 30 years and has been confirmed effective for the treatment of opiate addiction in numerous scientific studies.

Methadone is an opiate "agonist," which means that it acts in a way that is similar to morphine and other narcotic medications, but does not create euphoria, sedation, or an analgesic effect. Therapeutically prescribed doses of methadone relieve withdrawal symptoms, eliminate opiate craving and allow normal functioning. Medical personnel supervise treatment and nurses administer the medication orally to patients on a daily basis.

Most evaluations have shown that, when correctly implemented, methadone treatment is capable of producing remarkable improvements in patients who were previously dysfunctional opiate addicts. Methadone patients throughout the world have been restored to productive lives, relations with families and children have been reestablished, and many have furthered their educations, obtained employment and improved their physical and mental health.

How Prevalent is Opiate Addiction?

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, there are over 900,000 heroin dependent individuals in the United States. Drug Enforcement Administration data indicate that heroin is increasingly available at purer levels throughout the nation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse has cited an alarming increase in the number of young people using heroin in suburban and urban areas.

Approximately 210,000 patients in this country are treated with methadone on any given day. [Source: CSAT]

How does Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) benefit our community?

Crime is reduced substantially

Studies have continually demonstrated that more than 70% of the people enrolled in methadone maintenance reduce or eliminate criminal activity during their first year in treatment.

Fewer individuals become infected with HIV and other infectious diseases

Medication-assisted treatment reduces the incidence of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases, as non-treated drug users often share contaminated needles.

Increased Economic Benefit

For every $1.00 spent on methadone treatment, there is an economic return of $4.00, when taking into account productivity in school and work, and reduction in crime, child abuse and homelessness.