DEVELOPMENT OF A METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM NETWORK

BIRCH & DAVIS ASSOCIATES, INC. WILL DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT PROGRAM NETWORK FOR TRAVELING CLIENTS. ALL METHADONE PROGRAMS LOCATED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE IDENTIFIED THROUGH CONTACT WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES (E.G., NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION), STATE AGENCIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH ACCESS TO INFORMATIONON TREATMENT PROGRAMS. ONCE IDENTIFIED, EACH METHADONE TREATMENT PROGRAM WILL BE CONTACTED TO ASCERTAIN PROGRAM-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION (E.G., NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, FEES) AND INTEREST IN SERVING AS A PARTICIPATING PROGRAM IN THE PROPOSED NETWORK. THE OUTCOME OF PHASE I WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE DIRECTORY OF PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY FUNDED METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS AND A LISTING OF THOSE THAT INDICATE INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING AS A SENDING AND/OR RECEIVING PROGRAM IN A TREATMENT REFERRAL NETWORK. THE METHADONE PROGRAM DIRECTORY TO BE DEVELOPED AT THE CONCLUSION OF PHASE I WILL BE USED DURING PHASE II TO PILOT-TEST THE ACCEPTABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND EFFICIENCY OF A TREATMENT PROGRAM NETWORK THAT ARRANGES CLIENT TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. PHASE II ALSO WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE FEE SCHEDULE FOR NATIONWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REFERRAL NETWORK DURING PHASE III.