Opioid Treatment Programs-Recording - 20023-07-13 - OTP

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Elise Wessel, an addiction medicine physician practicing at Heritage Behavioral Health Center in Decatur, Illinois, gave a presentation on opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in a Testimonies in the Trenches video. She discussed the history of OTPs, the current environment and future implications, as well as best practices for patient care in OTPs. Dr. Wessel explained the history of methadone as an alternative to morphine developed in the 1930s and its use for opioid use disorder by Dr. Vincent Dole in the 1960s. Methadone was FDA approved in 1972 and is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of overdose. She also discussed the use of buprenorphine and naltrexone as FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder. OTPs are the only healthcare centers that can offer all three forms of medication-assisted treatment. Different states have varying regulations for OTPs, which can affect access to care. Dr. Wessel also explained the process of transitioning patients from methadone to buprenorphine or vice versa and the considerations for dosage and patient preferences. She highlighted the importance of harm reduction strategies and the treatment of co-occurring conditions like hepatitis C. The presentation concluded with a discussion of legislative efforts to address barriers to access to methadone and the potential for expanding the use of telehealth and pharmacy dispensing for OTPs.

Keywords

Dr. Elise Wessel

addiction medicine physician

opioid treatment programs

methadone

buprenorphine

naltrexone

medication-assisted treatment

state regulations for OTPs

harm reduction strategies

co-occurring conditions