Drug User Think

METHADONE REFORM b y

a a r o n F e r g u s o n

It has been clear for a long time that access More than a few members of USU attend to methadone and buprenorphine is too methadone clinics across the country, and the restricted. Despite having the tools at our adverse experiences each have had—both disposal to cut drug poisonings in half, before and during COVID-19–are shining those seeking these medications still have to examples of the need for reform. When the do more than most people are capable of letter first started taking shape we had no clue doing. Patients are required to spend hours what kind of support it would receive. Within a driving to and from the clinic for daily matter of weeks, over 140 organizations and dosing, have their privacy violated by being hundreds of individuals had signed on in “observed” while urinating, and carry support. Following a social media campaign around their medications in lock-boxes like under the hashtag “freethemethadone,” we have no other prescription in the world. These found ourselves leading a national discussion are just a few of the standard practices that about how treatment providers and regulators make using heroin more attractive than can do a better job of humanizing treatment. getting treatment. News outlets have begun to spotlight this When COVID-19 took place it threw a some concrete steps toward lasting reform serious wrench in the social control that is both during, and after COVID. the opioid treatment system. With state and important topic, and we hope to begin seeing local governments issuing stay at home What we definitely do not want is to go back to orders, people could no longer continue business as usual. The way this treatment has congregating in long lines outside of clinics been conducted up to this point is simply at 6 AM waiting for the doors to open. When unacceptable and people are dying because of SAMHSA and the DEA released guidelines it. We as a union strongly support permanent allowing for the most relaxed regulations to reform to the current system of delivery for methadone in 40+ years, the Urban methadone and buprenorphine to more Survivor’s Union, the National Alliance for accurately reflect the needs of people who use Medication Assisted Recovery, and the Drug substances. We believe that the best way to Policy Alliance came together to write a save lives is for treatment decisions to involve letter in support of a more humane patients in the conversation about their own approach to MAT delivery. The outdated, health, just like any other field of medicine. In ineffective regulations on these medications the future we will continue to urge regulators were not only preventing people from and providers to apply the same attitude to getting lifesaving treatment, they were now people who use drugs as they would to every placing them directly in harm’s way. other American seeking medical assistance. We need your support in this effort. Please look into attending our Monday Methadone calls, and reach out to us to find out how you can become involved in this fight for change.

Join from your computer, tablet or smartphone www.gotomeet.me/usucall/methadone-mtg United States: +1 (872) 240-3212 Access Code: 289-450-221