Methadone Clinic

New Season Chief Medical Director Dr. Chip Roberts answers some of the clinical questions we receive on a regular basis.

Welcome to the third installment of our multi-part blog series that is providing our readers an inside look into the New Season organization, specifically how we provide top-notch treatment to our patients by administering medication-assisted treatment and professional counseling services across the 72 methadone clinics throughout the nation.

The blog series format follow suit with the previous posts — “three questions in three minutes” with key and essential personnel in the New Season organization.

In this post, we’ll talk with the New Season Chief Medical Director Dr. Chip Roberts, and he’ll answer some of the clinical questions we receive on a regular basis.

Q & A with Dr. Chip Roberts, New Season Chief Medical Director

Question: Why do you think Medication-Assisted Treatment is an important tool in combating the opioid crisis?

Answer: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a critical part in fighting the opioid epidemic and healing our communities. Research has proven that administering methadone to stabilize patients with opioid use disorder to be the most effective form of treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), MAT achieves various positive outcomes including:

  • Reduction in the use of illicit drugs
  • Reduction in criminal activity
  • Reduction in needle sharing
  • Reduction in HIV infection rates and transmission
  • Cost-effective recovery
  • Reduction in commercial sex work
  • Reduction in the number of reports of multiple sex partners
  • Improvements in social health and productivity
  • Improvements in health conditions
  • Retention in addiction treatment
  • Reduction in suicide
  • Reduction in lethal overdose

Question: Is Medication-Assisted Treatment replacing one drug for another?

Answer: Research shows that Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) does not involve substituting one drug for another. Methadone and buprenorphine are FDA approved treatment options for patients with opioid use disorder. Both medications act as a stabilizer in the body rather than as narcotics. When taken as prescribed, MAT helps patients function physically, emotionally and intellectually without impairment. MAT helps patients meaningfully partake in counseling to set goals and achieve positive health, mental and behavioral outcomes

Question: What are the other opioid addiction treatment programs, and are they better?

Answer: In addition to the type of program we employ, which is an outpatient, medication-assisted treatment, some patients choose other paths, including abstinence, self help, faith-based reformation, and inpatient rehabilitation. Each individual is unique, and there are suitable options for their recovery.

Medication-assisted treatment statistically proves to be the most effective method in the path to recovery, as noted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), among other reputable agencies.

Our outpatient approach to care allows patients to visit one of our clinics on a daily basis for counseling, doctor’s visits, mental and behavioral help, among a list of other medical and social services. This method proves to be highly effective because patients are not removed from their ordinary life or daily stressors, and have the ability to reach back to us for prolonged medical and social help at the center.

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Thank you for taking an inside look into the nation’s leading methadone clinic, New Season.

If you are a member of the news media or general public requesting further information, please contact our marketing team at media-relations@cmglp.com. If you are interested in learning more about our treatment options for opioid use disorder, speak with one of our trained professionals 24/7 at 1-877-284-7074.