tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-195236712024-03-13T11:17:37.987-04:00President's BlogThe President Takes Issue...
Here you will find current and timely issues that are impacting the quality of medication assisted treatment (MAT) and particularly the treatment of MAT patients.Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-32299665549238068552020-09-08T22:44:00.004-04:002020-09-09T19:38:45.714-04:00Nominations Open for the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award<br />
<p><b style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, "trebuchet ms", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery</b><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: tahoma, "trebuchet ms", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span face="">Contact Persons:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""><b>Zachary Talbott, President<br>
<a href="mailto:president@methadone.org">president@methadone.org</a> </b></span><br />
<b>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director<br>
<a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a> </b><br />
<b><span face="">Phone/Fax: 1 (212) 595-NAMA (1-212-595-6262)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: tahoma, "trebuchet ms", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span face=""><br /></span></b>
<b><span face="">For Release:</span></b><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: tahoma, "trebuchet ms", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span face=""><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: tahoma, "trebuchet ms", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Richard Lane was a long-term heroin user who, upon release
from prison in 1967, was instrumental in establishing one of the Nation’s first
opioid treatment programs. In 1974, he became the Executive Director of Man
Alive and later served as Vice President of the American Methadone Treatment
Association (now AATOD) and as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Council on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland. Mr. Lane was a passionate advocate for methadone treatment (the only medication for opioid use disorder available at the time) and, by disclosing his own treatment experiences, provided inspiration to patients and colleagues
alike.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Robert Holden was also a recovering heroin user, who later
became the Director of PIDARC, an outpatient opioid treatment program in the
District of Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a friend of
Richard Lane and succeeded Richard Lane’s term of office as the Vice President
of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This award was established in 1995 and recognizes extraordinary achievements in medication assisted treatment (MAT) patient advocacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The following criteria should be applied in making your
selection:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">Only one
(1) nominee can be submitted by NAMA Recovery to the Conference Awards Committee. There may be a
number of nominees however only one (1) “consensus” nominee may receive this honor.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">The
nominee must have been involved in the field of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) advocacy for a period
of five (5) years.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">The
nominee must have made meaningful and consistent contributions, which have had
a significant impact on opioid treatment within a state or region of the United
States.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">For each
nominee a Nomination Form must be completed and submitted with two (2) Letters
of Support. The Nomination Form and this announcement and can also be
downloaded from the NAMA Recovery website <a href="http://www.methadone.org/" target= "_blank">http://www.methadone.org</a>
and the President’s Blog <a href="http://nama-president.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://nama-president.blogspot.com/</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NAMA Recovery will be responsible for collecting all the
submissions for nomination and selecting a committee of advocates that will
decide on the final candidate. The Candidate’s Name, Nomination Form and at least two (2) Letters of Support
describing the nominee’s achievements will be submitted to the AATOD Conference
Awards Committee for the final approval.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The deadline for Submissions is October 9, 2020. The completed Nomination Form along with at least two (2) Letters of Support should be sent to Joycelyn Woods at
<a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a>.</p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Previous Winners of the Award<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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Richard Lane, 1995, Arizona<br />
Joycelyn Woods, 2001, St. Louis<br />
Anthony Scro, 2007, San Diego<br />
Walter Ginter, 2009, New York<br />
Lisa Mojer Torres, 2010, Chicago<br />
Roxanne Baker, 2012, Las Vegas<br />
Ira Marion, 2013, Philadelphia<br />
Claude Hopkins, 2015, Atlanta<br />
Brenda Davis, 2016, Baltimore<br />
Paul Bowman, 2017 New York<br />
Zachary Talbott, 2019 Orlando<br />
</div>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal">This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the
Awards Banquet Ceremony on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 during AATOD’s next National
Conference which will convene at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The recipient will be provided with a roundtrip Coach Class
airfare, up to two (2) nights in the hotel and Conference Registration.</p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deadline:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friday, October 9, 2020<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal">Email Nominations To:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
Joycelyn Woods<br />
edirector@methadone.org</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have any questions about the award contact Joycelyn
Woods at edirector@methadone.org or by telephone at 917-846-9983<o:p></o:p></p>
<br /><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><A class="MsoNormal" title="Press Release" href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/20200908Press%20Release.docx" target="_blank">Download Press Release</A></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><A class="MsoNormal" title="NOMINATION FORM word" href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/2021%20NOMINATION%20FORMS.docx" target="_blank">Download NOMINTION FORMS (word)</A></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><A class="MsoNormal" title="NOMINATION FORM pdf" href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/2021%20NOMINATION%20FORMS.pdf" target="_blank">Download NOMINTION FORMS (pdf)</A></p>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-16673253365002877272019-09-16T00:00:00.000-04:002019-09-16T00:00:02.110-04:00Confidently Under Attack<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">National
Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif;"><b>Press Release</b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Contact Person:</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Joycelyn
Woods, Executive Director, </span></b><a href="mailto:edirector@methadoe.org" target="_blank">edirector@methadoe.org</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Phone/Fax: 1 (212) 595-NAMA (1-212-595-6262)</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For Release:</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">September
16, 2019<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Confidently
Under Attack<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(We Are in for the
Fight of Our Lives)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">SAMHSA has
posted two notices of proposed rulemaking (“NPRMs”) on the federal regulations
for the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">They were
published August 26, 2019 in the <i>Federal Register.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>N</u></i><u>ote the comment deadlines for
each rule</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NPRM –
Regulatory Information Number 0930-AA30:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 39.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/26/2019-17816/confidentiality-of-substance-use-disorder-patient-records" target="_blank">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/26/2019-17816/confidentiality-of-substance-use-disorder-patient-records</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Deadline for submitting public comments: <b>by 5 pm
September 25, 2019</b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NPRM –
Regulatory Information Number 0930-AA32: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/26/2019-17817/confidentiality-of-substance-use-disorder-patient-records" target="_blank">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/26/2019-17817/confidentiality-of-substance-use-disorder-patient-records</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deadline for submitting public
comments: <b>by </b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">5
pm October 25, 2019</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Number 0930-AA30 public comments
must be submitted by September 25, 2019 by 5 pm.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Here is
a summary of the main changes that <u>are</u> acceptable:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<strong><span style="background: white; color: black;">Consent
Requirements: </span></strong><strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Patients may consent to release without naming a specific
person to apply for benefits and resources (i.e. SSI)<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Disclosures Permitted w/
Written Consent:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Payment and health care
operations are permitted with written consent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black;">Medical
Emergencies: </span></strong><strong><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Patient information may be released during declared
emergencies without consent.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black;">Audit
and Evaluation: </span></strong><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">To resolve current ambiguity, part 2 will be
revised to clarify some situations that fall within the scope.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Here is
a summary of the main changes that are <u>NOT</u> acceptable:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="background: white; color: black;">Applicability
and Re-Disclosure: </span></strong><strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Patient’s records in</span></strong><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">non-part
2 providers both previous and current are no longer covered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><i><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black; font-weight: normal;">NAMA-R thinks this is unacceptable and that Part 2 records
needs to maintain the protection that they have always had.<o:p></o:p></span></i></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black;">Disposition
of Records: </span></strong><strong><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Part 2 program employees may delete a patient message sent
to them on their personal device.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><i><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black; font-weight: normal;">NAMA-R does not believe Part 2 employees should be using
their personal devices for program business. Part 2 programs should set aside the
funds to purchase mobile phones for employees.<o:p></o:p></span></i></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="background: white; color: black;">Disclosures
to Central Registries and PDMPs: </span></strong><strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Non-OTP providers may
query a Central Registry to determine if patients are receiving opioid
treatment elsewhere. OTPs will be permitted to enroll in PDMPs when prescribing
Schedule </span></strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">II to V, consistent with applicable state law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">NAMA-R believes Central Registries are an
important part of the treatment system, as they have been for over 40 years,
and can be utilized in ways that protect Confidentiality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, reporting medication dispensed by
OTPs to state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) would violate the
specific consent requirements of 42 USC 290dd-2. Furthermore, it gives criminal
justice agencies access to persons involved in substance use treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could discourage individuals with OUD
from seeking treatment. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Law
enforcement accesses PDMPs at a very high frequency. Many states do not require
a warrant or subpoena for law enforcement access of this highly sensitive
information. This is a very low bar.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="background: white; color: black;">Research:
</span></strong><strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Research may be conducted by HIPAA entities </span></strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">or
business associate to individuals and organizations who are not HIPAA entities,
nor subject to the Common Rule (re: Research on Human Subjects).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NAMA-R supports research involving
patients of SUD treatment as long as confidentiality protections remain in
place. These proposed changes will allow research into OTPs in a way that opens
the door for entities to do marketing research and otherwise violate a
patient’s civil right to confidentiality.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="background: white; color: black;">Confidential
Communications: </span></strong><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">To correct an error from the 2017 rule-making,
the “standard for court ordered disclosures of SUD records for the purpose of investigating
"an extremely serious crime" will be revised, by dropping the phrase
"allegedly committed by the patient."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">NAMA-R opposes the proposed changes to this
section. For over forty years, Part 2 has protected people who have sought
treatment for alcohol and drug use from having their own records used against
them in courts, unless it is a case of serious violence or child abuse. It has
never been intended that our SUD treatment records be used in cases
of "drug trafficking" against a patient, or another person. People
seek treatment to recover from substance use disorders, to change their lives,
and believe that the private information they share will be confidential
and protected.<b> </b>One must recall that Part 2 was implemented over a murder
that a community person thought was committed by a patient at an OTP. The
community member was wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black;">Undercover
Agents and Informants: </span></strong><span style="background: #f6f7f7; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Court-ordered placement of an undercover agent
or informant within a part 2 program will be extended to a period of 12 months,
and courts will be authorized to extend the period through a new court order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NAMA-R believes that there is no
place for informants in Part 2 programs. Allowing this will frighten
prospective patients from treatment during a time of crisis and will obliterate
the confidentiality protections required by 42 USC 290dd-2.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SAMHSA does not have the authority to implement regulations
that override the U.S. Code and legislation passed by Congress and signed by
the President. Only Congress and the President can change legislative
requirements enshrined in the U.S. Code. SAMHSA, as an Executive Branch agency,
does not have the Constitutional authority to implement changes in 42 CFR Part
2 that override or otherwise attempt to invalidate core requirements and
provisions of 42 USC 290dd-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In context
of pervasive stigma and criminalization, patients need MORE privacy protections
for people who use drugs, not less. Better integration between behavioral,
mental, and other health info is necessary to improve care. Giving up privacy
to get there is not a necessary trade-off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The PDMP
provision is a MAJOR fundamental change that threatens the essential framework
of 42 CFR Part 2 and likely would result in unconstitutional executive
overreach by SAMHSA that would override consent requirements required by 42 USC
290dd-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">When an
individual seeks treatment, they are acknowledging highly stigmatized and criminalized
behavior. Drug use is subject to enormous negative consequences, including
criminal liability, parental rights, housing, life insurance and other benefits.
Confidentiality currently afforded by 42 CFR Part 2 protects patients from this
discrimination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The major
function of Part 2 is to create relatively high bar on data access for law
enforcement to assuage patient concerns about surveillance and their
information being used against them. HIPAA provides no patient protection
against law enforcement access of SUD treatment records.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">What Should You Do?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">What to Expect<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 390.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This
is called a New Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). The agency that oversees the
regulations begins by posting a Comment Period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Usually it is 90 days to give everyone the opportunity to write their
comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SAMHSA only gave <u>30 days
for </u></span><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regulatory Information Number
0930-AA30</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">and 60 days for </span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regulatory
Information Number 0930-AA32. </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The standard has always been a 90
day public commenting period, especially when there are significant changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Links to the pdf file proposing the
NPRMs is at the beginning and comments can be submitted there.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everyone that is a patient or an
advocate for patients should comment. You can copy from this Press Release or
write your own. And your comment can be as simple as:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am a patient (or advocate for
patients) and this NPRM should not be implemented. Patients in Part 2 programs
have been promised that their information is protected. What will they be told
if these changes are made?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These changes
are significant enough to make any therapeutic alliance between patients and
Part 2 programs difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Patients need MORE protection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Signed Your Name”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Additional support around commenting
with a direct hyperlink to the commenting website, as well as specifics between
the two NRPMs, can be found here: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.fightforpatientrights.org/comment-now" target="_blank">https://www.fightforpatientrights.org/comment-now</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are concerned about signing
your name you could write, <i>“I am afraid to sign my name because of the
discrimination I’ve experienced.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More Information:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://atforum.com/2019/09/aatod-nama-concerned-law-enforcement-threats-patient-confidentiality" target="_blank">AATOD, NAMA Concerned About Law Enforcement Threats to Patient Confidentiality</a></div>
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<a href="https://filtermag.org/samhsa-addiction-confidentiality/" target="_blank">SAMHSA to Drop SUD Treatment Confidentiality Rule, Because “Times Change”</a></div>
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<a href="https://filtermag.org/samhsa-law-enforcement-mat/" target="_blank">SAMHSA Ushers in Law Enforcement “Fishing Expeditions” for MAT Patients</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://lac.org/addiction-confidentiality-42-cfr-part-2-important/" target="_blank">The Fundamentals of Part 2 (Legal Action Center)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://atforum.com/2019/07/samhsa-to-propose-changes-to-42-cfr-part-2/" target="_blank">SAMHSA to Propose Changes to 42 CFR Part 2</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fightforpatientsrights.org/" target="_blank">Fight for Patient’s Rights - Dr. Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH and Danielle Tarino, MA</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: red;">FLYER</span></span></h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 22pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">CALL TO ACTION</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 22.0pt;">Leave Comment on </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 22.0pt;">SAMHSA’s Confidentiality Proposals<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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The federal confidentiality
law and regulations protect the privacy of substance use disorder (SUD) patient
records by prohibiting unauthorized disclosures of patient records except in
limited circumstances. Congress enacted the legislation in the 1970s to
encourage individuals with SUDs to enter and remain in treatment. <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2010-title42/pdf/USCODE-2010-title42-chap6A-subchapIII-A-partD-sec290dd-2.pdf" target="_blank">42 USC § 290dd-2 </a>is the law. The regulations implementing the law are
at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?rgn=div5;node=42%3A1.0.1.1.2" target="_blank">42 CFR (Code of FederalRegulations) Part 2 </a>and are commonly
referred to as “Part 2.” Core protections against law enforcement and
re-disclosure are just as critical today as they were in the 1970s. <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>PART 2 is UNDER ATTACK.</b> The Trump Administration’s <b>HHS
Secretary</b> <b>Alex Azar</b> and Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and
Substance Use <b>Elinore McCanze-Katz </b>are overseeing <b><i><u>two separate</u></i></b><u>
“Notices of Proposed Rule Making” (NPRM)</u> that seek to <b>obliterate the
core confidentiality protections of Part 2</b>. <i>This one pager contains core
concerns around each NPRM with a direct link to leave Public Comment. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><u>NPRM #1: Proposal
0930-AA30</u></b> <i><u>COMMENTS
DUE by <b>9/25/19 at 5pm</b> Eastern!</u></i></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Would allow
personal health information to be shared outside the healthcare system for
criminal justice purposes & allow law enforcement “fishing expeditions” in
patient records to prosecute individuals enrolled in treatment or use patient
records to prosecute others;</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This proposed
change is not in line with the best interests of patients seeking treatment for
substance use disorders, and it goes against the fundamental reason for 42 CFR
Part2;</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">These changes will
deter people from seeking care out of fear of law enforcement involvement
& encourage those enrolled in treatment to leave prematurely;</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It has never been
intended in any iteration of Part 2 that SUD treatment records be used in
cases of "drug trafficking" against a patient, or another person. </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">SAMHSA
should not implement these proposed changes that have the potential to worsen
the opioid crisis & deter individuals with OUD from seeking treatment.</i></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">COMMENT HERE: </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=HHS-OS-2019-0010-0001">https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=HHS-OS-2019-0010-0001</a></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u>NPRM #2: Proposal
0930-AA32</u></b> <i><u>COMMENTS
DUE by <b>10/25/19 at 5pm</b> Eastern!</u></i></div>
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<ul>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Applicability and Re-Disclosure</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">: Patient’s records in non-part 2
providers both previous and current are no longer covered. This is
unacceptable, as re-disclosure protections are critical to the core
confidentiality protections and purposes of Part 2.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Disclosures to Central Registries and
PDMPs</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">: This is one
of the most frightening proposals that would obliterate the consent requirement
of <i>42 USC 290dd-2 </i>and allow any individual with a login to the
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to access information regarding an
individual’s SUD treatment <i><u>without their consent</u></i>. <b><u>NO</u></b>
SUD treatment information, including SUD treatment medications, should be
uploaded into the PDMP. Law enforcement routinely accesses PDMPs in many
states. This issue should not be “kicked” to the states, as core civil rights
should always be protected federally.</span></li>
<li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Undercover Agents and Informants: </span></b><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Court-ordered placement of an
undercover agent or informant within a Part 2 program will be allowed for a
period of 12 months. <i>There is no place for informants in SUD treatment
programs. </i>Allowing this will frighten prospective & current patients
from treatment during a time of crisis and will obliterate the confidentiality
protections required by <i>42 USC 290dd-2</i>.</span></li>
</ul>
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COMMENT
HERE: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=HHS-OS-2019-0011-0001">https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=HHS-OS-2019-0011-0001</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR%2009-16-19.docx">Download Press Release</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/Part2CommentFlyer.docx">Download Part 2 Comment Flyer</a></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-39291354925036285192019-07-26T00:00:00.000-04:002019-07-26T11:12:19.319-04:00Letter to U.S. Congress<br />
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<span style="color: black;">House of Representatives
and Senate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">U.S. Congress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Capitol Hill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Washington, D.C.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dear Congresspersons and Senators:<o:p></o:p></div>
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The National Alliance for Medication
Assisted Recovery is an organization of medication assisted treatment (MAT)
patients and health care professionals supporting quality health care.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Currently the United States is in
the midst of a serious opioid epidemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
attempt should be made to encourage individuals with a Substance Use Disorder
(SUD) to enter treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patients
concerns about entering treatment such as privacy are not being considered. Instead,
insurance companies, EHR vendors, profit hungry health care networks and
others<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>interested in whose interest is
in profit from individuals suffering from alcohol use disorders and drug use
disorders propose to make substance use disorder treatment unappealing by
gutting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>42 USC 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part
2, the federal substance use disorder confidentiality law and regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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You will be asked to vote for
legislation that will diminish a person’s confidentiality and that MAT patients
take very seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please do not take
this protection from us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The opponents of the current 42
USC 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2, claim that the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) is sufficient. But, they know that HIPAA offers less
confidentiality protection than the current federal substance use disorder
confidentiality law and regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Less protection means a greater risk of harm from disclosure for those
in treatment or in Recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In fact, the
limitations to confidentiality protection offered by HIPAA’s exceptions to
confidentiality will certainly discourage those with a substance use disorder
to postpone, delay or refuse to acknowledge that they have a substance use
disorder.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most MAT
patients are not aware of the attack on their confidentiality that they have
trusted and believed in since entering treatment. We do not have powerful
lobbyists in Washington to make inaccurate arguments (i.e. 1. health care will
be safer, 2. patients are not concerned with confidentiality, 3. it is
necessary to be able to know if a patient is in SUD treatment).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Vote No On Changing </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">42 USC 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Aligning 42
CFR Part 2 with HIPAA and by ignoring the potential harm caused by weakening 42
CFR Part 2, only those with the most severe substance use disorders will seek
treatment. It will also force many currently in treatment to leave resulting in
placing them at great risk of relapse and adding to current opioid overdose
epidemic. The more stability a MAT patient attains the more they have to lose
if there SUD is known. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2017, 20
million people met criteria for SUDs, BUT only 2.5 million of these received
treatment. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Why?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Not because of
42 CFR Part 2, but because 94% of those who needed SUD treatment but did not
receive treatment did not feel they needed treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This
percentage will rise even higher when it becomes known that those receiving SUD
treatment will not be able to decide who has access to their SUD treatment
information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon admission to SUD
treatment the program explains the many exceptions to confidentiality that
HIPAA permits. This information go out to the streets and many people will decide
that help for their SUD is not worth it. They will believe they can “kick it”
on their own, but if that were true they would not need help.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Because of
discrimination, stigma, and negative attitudes about those with SUDs, people in
Recovery have enough barriers to employment that pays a living wage, housing
that protects against the elements, and social support that does not alienate
them for having suffered the disease of SUD. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even decent medical care is difficult and once
their treatment for a SUD is known they are often treated as second class
citizen patients. Allowing a person’s history of SUD treatment to be disclosed
without their consent increases their social disadvantage. HIPAA permits such
an unconsented disclosure to a broad range of entities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Congress has
appropriated billions of dollars to address the opioid crisis and to promote SUD
treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please do not waste this
investment by scaring away the very people those dollars were meant to help!
Insurance companies, EHR vendors and profit hungry health care networks claim a
need for better care coordination; they aren’t treating the vast majority of
people with substance use disorders. And from our experience they do not want
to treat persons with a SUD. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A change in
42 USC 290dd-2, and they’ll be treating even fewer people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There are
technological fixes already in existence that would allow health information
sharing while protecting the ability of those who need treatment to determine who
should have access to their health information. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Software
vendors have argued that there are no financial incentives to incorporate these
patient centered fixes into proprietary platforms. In fact, the federal
government sponsored the development of just such fixes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The software market place finds it cheaper
and easier to sacrifice the autonomy of the unpowerful and the poor, rather
than make the necessary change to their software.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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An estimated
20 million Americans have recovered from alcohol and drug related
problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the proposed changes in
42 USC 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2, many people in Recovery will find themselves
subject to inappropriate information disclosures; no longer will People in Recovery
have to be consulted before their SUD histories be disclosed to entities with
the power to harm the affected individuals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While insurers
and cost-cutting health networks are attempting to deny people in Recovery the
ability to determine who gets the information about prior alcohol or drug use
disorders, the rest of society is marshalling resources to protect their
personal information against misuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An
example of privacy vigilance can be found in the New York Times “The Privacy
Project”, which acknowledges that companies and governments “are gaining new
powers to follow people across the internet and around the world, and even to
peer into their genomes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Creating a new
path to stigmatize people in Recovery or in SUD treatment is unconscionable.
Effective SUD treatment requires trust between provider and patient; in the
absence of trust, full disclosure of such issues as trauma, rape, abuse,
depression, anxiety, anger, discrimination or other sensitive issues that may
be linked to substance use is not possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Without trust, there will be no truth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Men and women
bring a host of highly sensitive personal issues into treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the assurance of confidentiality that
the current 42 USC 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2 promises, it will become very
difficult for treatment to progress; such treatment will become adversarial at
worse and a game at best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result,
treatment will be hindered and Recovery delayed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 184.9pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 184.9pt;">
The current opioid
crisis is being used as a justification for gutting 42 USC 290dd-2 and 42 CFR
Part 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More people, currently misuse
alcohol than currently misuse opioids. While it is estimated that 3.5 million
people currently misuse opioids, 2.2 million misuse cocaine, 774,000 are
current users of methamphetamine, 16.7 million are heavy alcohol users, and
66.6 million are binge alcohol drinkers. More people are in treatment for
alcohol use disorders than for all illicit drug use disorders. While opioid
overdose deaths are an important public health issue, promoting person centered
SUD treatment that involves patient consent to disclosure is also important.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 184.9pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Protect Our
Confidentiality Keep 42 CFR Part 2 As Is<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Protect Patient
Autonomy - Nurture Patient Clinician Trust<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Encourage
Treatment Seeking</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Preserve Patient’s Right To Decide<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 184.9pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Using the current opioid crisis as a reason
to change federal substance use disorder confidentiality laws and regulations is
merely an excuse to reduce the cost and effort of treatment a goal they have
been after for after a decade. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These anti
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">42 USC 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2</span>
entities do not care about the difficulties that persons in Recovery face.
Neither are they concerned with the further discrimination against people who
need help recovering from their substance use. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 184.9pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 184.9pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Please use your vote to encourage people to
enter treatment, Vote NO on legislation that would weaken 42 USC 290dd-2 and 42
CFR Part 2.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 184.9pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 184.9pt;">
Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
Joycelyn Sue Woods, M.A., C.A.R.C., C.M.A.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-right: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="color: black;">Acting President<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namaletters/2019%200726NAMAR%20congress.pdf" target="_blank">Download PDF Letter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namaletters/2019%200726NAMAR%20congress.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namaletters/2019 0726NAMAR congress.pdf</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-4610035078658547622019-07-11T00:00:00.000-04:002019-07-14T17:58:39.422-04:00 NAMA Recovery Calls on Federal and State Officials to Help Patients Get Medication During Tropical Storm Barry<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Contacts Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phone/Fax: 1 212-595-NAMA (1-212-595-6262)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
July 11, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">NAMA Recovery and our
chapters have begun to receive calls and messages from Medication Assisted
Treatment (MAT) patients in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Barry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The majority of clinics are
giving medication through Sunday, July 14, 2019 when weather reports are
predicting severe flooding following the storm. Patients are reporting that
they are not being given medication because they cannot pay for it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">There are some clinics that
are already experiencing flooding in the surrounding areas making it impossible
to get there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
Southeastern NAMA-R Chapter is in ongoing Communication with Louisiana and
surrounding state authorities, and they are welcome to reach out to us and
watch our Facebook page at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">www.facebook.com/NAMARecovery</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/NAMARecovery" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/NAMARecovery</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> if they have any questions or need
support. (Or our Southeast Chapter </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>https://www.facebook.com/groups/NAMARecoveryTN/</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">This should not be a repeat
of Katrina when every clinic is the New Orleans area was flooded and patients
were not able to get medication for a week or more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the responsibility of the Health and Human Services
(HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),
Veterans Administration (VA) and state agencies to have disaster plans in place
for when emergencies occur. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The SAMHSA Disaster
App is not working giving the message that it is downloading information and
then tells you to try back later. In a disaster you can’t try back later.) It
appears that the New Orleans area may again have a disaster in the making that
could have been avoided if agencies had come up with a solution following the
Katrina disaster.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>RE: <b>Clinic
Information About Tropical Storm Barry in New Orleans Area</b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Date:<b> 7/11/2019</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is the
latest information we have on New Orleans clinics. It is from NASADAD’s
Disaster Preparedness List. Please check for updates on our FaceBook Page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NAMARecovery" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/NAMARecovery </a>. Or our Southeast Chapter <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NAMARecovery/TN" target="_blank"> https://www.facebook.com/groups/NAMARecoveryTN</a>/</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
BHG Lake
Charles: Open today & giving take
home doses for Friday and Saturday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
BHG Downtown
New Orleans: Expected water by this
afternoon because every street near them has flooded (see media). WDSU (local television station) has let their
employees leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
BHG
Greta: Expected water this afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
BAART Breau
Bridge: Regular hours today & Friday
issuing take home doses. Closed Saturday & Sunday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Acadiana
Baton Rouge: Today until 11 am, Friday
5:15 – 8 am, Sat 6:30 – 8 (this clinic didn’t flood in 2016 but was surrounded
by water).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Centers for
Behavioral Health Monroe & Shreveport:
Supportive role for guest doses at their clinics & have been advised
of possibility of shelters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Choices all
3 clinics (Alexandria, LaPlace & Hammond):
Extended hours today (7/11/19) & all 3 clinics open tomorrow until
10 am. Saturday will assess. Alexandria
Saturday 7-9 am. (LaPlace & Hammond didn’t flood in 2016). All 3 of Choices clinics have industrial
generators.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
NAMA-R has
received reports that some clinics are not giving patient’s emergency
medication unless they pay for it. Barry
seems to be picking up strength and may become a Hurricane 1 storm. There is
also severe flooding expected after and it seems reasonable to get medication
through Tuesday, 7/16/19.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-61282631218970133192019-05-06T17:33:00.000-04:002019-07-14T17:35:04.808-04:00Carmen Beatrice Pearman Arlt, LMSW, CAC, CMA 1955 – 2019<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Contacts Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carmen Pearman-Arlt, President, carlt@porterstarke.org<span style="font-family: "segoe ui symbol" , sans-serif;">♰</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1-212-595-62620<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May 6, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #00141e;">64, passed away December 9, 2018 after a
long illness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the early 1990s NAMA Recovery was mailed an index card
with dimes taped to it and a short message saying they could not afford $10 for
membership and this was all they had. It was Carmen Pearman. Like all
letters we receive from patients she received a letter back saying that we
would rather have her advocacy than money. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carmen organized one of our oldest chapters The MAG
(Methadone Advocacy Group). One of the things the group decided to do was clean
the street around their clinic. While they were out picking up garbage
and sweeping the street when the Reverend from the church across the street
came out to warn them about those addicts over there. Carmen explained that
they were those addicts. From this encounter patients were given space in the
church to set up 12 step groups and to have meetings. The following year there
was a big drug conference In Indiana and the chapter acted as the color guard
for the governor when he entered the arena. I remember Carmen sending a picture
of them all dressed in white shirts, navy bow ties for women and regular ties
for men and navy pants. <br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carmen went back to school and earned an MSW and was
continuing her education a PhD in social work when she became ill.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
She received the Dole Nyswander
Award (Marie) in 2001 for organizing the state provider organization. The state
of Indiana had no representation and clinics saw each other more as competitors
than associates working for a common cause. She helped to establish the clinics
in their current state organization.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The past few years she developed
the program for women and children at Porter Starke (Valparaiso, IN) in
addition to being President of NAMA Recovery. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #00141e;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #00141e;">She resided in Hanna, Indiana and is survived by two
sons: David and Erich and three great-grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #00141e;">NAMA Recovery will miss Ms. Pearman’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dedication and compassion to patients and the
field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">(Information
for this Press Release was published in the Post Tribune on
Feb. 10, 2019.)</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.methadone.org/membership.html" target="_blank">Support NAMA Recovery – become a Member<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-63891172151726784302019-05-06T00:00:00.000-04:002019-07-14T17:28:45.322-04:00Herman Joseph, PhD 1931 – 2019<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Contacts Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carmen Pearman-Arlt, President, carlt@porterstarke.org<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Symbol",sans-serif;">♰</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1-212-595-6262)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May 6, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-outline-level: 1; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dr. Joseph was one
of the important influences on addiction and criminal justice during the latter
20th and early 21st century. For more than 50 years he has worked as a
social research scientist in the interrelated fields of addiction, treatment,
criminal justice, street studies, homelessness, basic research and program
development at the NYC Office of Probation, the Rockefeller University and the
NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;">In the early 1970’s Dr. Joseph
negotiated services, both personnel and facilities and developed in a citywide
network of five probation methadone clinics. In these programs he developed the
first vocational guidance and employment service for unemployed probationers,
and, with the NYC Department of Health, the first urine testing service in probation.
These initiatives changed heroin addiction from an intractable problem for
probation into a manageable issue. He was a member of the team that developed
the first ‘in jail’ methadone maintenance program, known as KEEP, for addicted
prisoners in Rikers Island Jail; an intervention that has been implemented
across many countries throughout the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">In the mid-1970s Dr. Joseph joined
Dr. Vincent P. Dole at The Rockefeller University to plan, conduct and
supervise the first detailed large-scale follow-up study of patients who left
methadone treatment (Dole and Joseph, 1978).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">In the mid 1980’s he joined the NY
State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and a member of
the research team. During the AIDS epidemic prisoners that were drug users and
HIV positive were put in an old building at Riker’s Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The building was awful. The windows were
sealed and temperatures rose in he Summer and during he cold months there was
often no heat, it was infested with roaches and rats and sometimes the inmates
did not get their medication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Joseph
and other OASAS employees brought bagels to the inmates every Saturday morning.
Eventually the group went on a Food Strike to get the attention of the city and
the result was a new building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">He organized the Crack Cocaine
Research Working Group, later known as the Chemical Dependency Research Working
Group (CDRWG) in the mid-1990s with the support of grants from the Aaron
Diamond Foundation. Dr. Joseph organized a series of symposia and conferences
covering major aspects of addiction, research and treatment, including a
consortium of major medical centers to study neonates exposed to cocaine/crack
in utero. Other projects and studies included addressing the HIV epidemic in
NYC including: the need for harm reduction services and the spread of HIV, HBV
and HCV among street/homeless population who used shelters, soup kitchens and
medical vans; presenting the first conference on chemical dependency and
disability as well as the first conference on hepatitis C and the chemically
dependent patient; assisting mentally ill homeless to obtain housing; studies
of the biology of crack cocaine, pain management and chemically dependent
patients, and helping to set up and evaluate methadone medical maintenance programs
in NY State. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">During the 1990’s he also set up
several Medical Maintenance Programs (Office Based Opioid Treatment) throughout
the state.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">He also authored a major study on
social stigma targeting the methadone program and patients and worked at introducing
the use of the buprenorphine-naloxone combination in harm
reduction and at Rikers Island jail.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Dr. Joseph authored or co-authored
over 125 published papers and government reports and, with David Courtwright
and Don DesJarlais, co-authored the book, <u>Addicts Who Survived</u>.
With Dr. Barry Stimmel he edited the book, <u>The Neurobiology of Cocaine
Addiction</u>. He was editor of special issues of the Mount Sinai Journal
of<u> </u>Medicine and the Journal of Addictive Diseases and has
also given numerous presentations on addiction and other topics at national and
international conferences. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Dr. Joseph has served on NAMA
Recovery’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board and was our Ambassador at
Large.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F9F9F9; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Commendations and Awards: Sen.
Jacob Javits had Dr. Joseph’s paper on probation methadone clinics entered into
the Congressional Record (1971); Commendation in 1974 from the commissioner of probation,
John Wallace, for developing the probation methadone clinics and the Vocational
Guidance Program in the Bronx; Nyswander/Dole “Marie” Award (1991); Life-time
Legacy Award and Proclamation from City of Cleveland (1999); NAMA Recovery
Award as Honorary Patient (2003); and Award from International Association for
Pain and Chemical Dependency (2007).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We at NAMA Recovery will miss Dr. Joseph he was a friend to
patients and professionals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">References<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Dole,
V.P. and Joseph, H.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1978.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Long term outcome of patients treated with
methadone maintenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Annals of
the New York Academy of Sciences</b> 311: 181-189.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Courtwright, D., Joseph, H. Des Jarlais, D 1989. Addicts Who
Survived. Univ of Tennessee Press; 1 edition.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Joseph, H., Simmel, B. 1997.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction: From Bench to Bedside. Routledge;
1 edition.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-29675816829199699752019-04-03T00:00:00.000-04:002019-04-06T16:54:08.149-04:00Nominations Open for the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award<h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, "Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16.9px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<b style="font-size: 13px;">National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery</b></h2>
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<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Contacts Persons</b>: <o:p></o:p></div>
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Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org" style="background: transparent; color: #669922; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">edirector@methadone.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Carmen Pearman-Arlt, President, <a href="mailto:carlt@porterstarke.org" style="background: transparent; color: #669922; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">carlt@porterstarke.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA (1-212-595-62620<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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April 3, 2019<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Nominations Open for the<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award</b><b><span style="color: #001a81; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
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Richard Lane was a long-term heroin user who, upon release
from prison in 1967, was instrumental in establishing one of the Nation’s first
methadone treatment programs. In 1974, he became the Executive Director of Man
Alive and later served as Vice President of the American Methadone Treatment
Association (now AATOD) and as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Council on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
Lane was a passionate advocate for methadone treatment and, by disclosing his
own treatment experiences, provided inspiration to patients and colleagues
alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Robert Holden was also a recovering heroin user, who later
became the Director of PIDARC, an outpatient methadone treatment program in the
District of Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a friend of
Richard Lane and succeeded Richard Lane’s term of office as the Vice President
of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This award was established in 1995 and
recognizes extraordinary achievements in patient advocacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The following criteria should be applied in making your
selection:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Only one (1) nominee can be submitted to the
Conference Awards Committee. There may be a number of nominees however only one
(1) “consensus” nominee may receive this honor.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The nominee must have been involved in the field
of methadone advocacy for a period of five (5) years.</span></li>
<li>The nominee must have made meaningful and
consistent contributions, which have had a significant impact on opioid
treatment within a state o</li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">F</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">or each nominee a Nomination Form must be
completed and submitted with two (2) Letters of Support. The Nomination Form and
this announcement and can also be downloaded from the NAMA Recovery website </span><a href="http://www.methadone.org/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">http://www.methadone.org</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> and the President’s
Blog </span><a href="http://nama-president.blogspot.com/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">http://nama-president.blogspot.com/</a></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>NAMA Recovery will be responsible for collecting all the
submissions for nomination and selecting a committee of advocates that will
decide on the final candidate. The
Candidate’s Name, Nomination Form and at least two (2) Letters of Support
describing the nominee’s achievements will be submitted to the AATOD Conference
Awards Committee for the final approval. </div>
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The deadline for Submissions is April 10, 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The completed Nomination Form along with at
least two (2) Letters of Support should be sent to Joycelyn Woods at
edirector@methadone.org.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<b>Previous Winners of the Award<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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1995, Arizona Richard Lane <o:p></o:p></div>
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2001, St. Louis Joycelyn Woods <o:p></o:p></div>
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2007, San Diego Anthony Scro <o:p></o:p></div>
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2009, New York Walter Ginter <o:p></o:p></div>
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2010, Chicago Lisa Mojer Torres <o:p></o:p></div>
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2012, Las Vegas Roxanne Baker <o:p></o:p></div>
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2013, Philadelphia Ira Marion<o:p></o:p></div>
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2015, Atlanta Claude
Hopkins<o:p></o:p></div>
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2016, Baltimore Brenda Davis<o:p></o:p></div>
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2017 New York Paul
Bowman<o:p></o:p></div>
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This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the
Awards Banquet Ceremony on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 during AATOD’s next
National Conference which will convene at the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk5309052"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #5a5a5a;">Disney's Coronado Springs Resort</span></a><span style="color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> in </span>Orlando,
Florida. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The recipient will be provided with a round trip Coach Class
airfare, up to two (2) nights in the hotel and Conference Registration. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Deadline: April 10, 2019<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Email Nominations
To: Joycelyn Woods edirector@methadone.org<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you have any questions about the award contact Joycelyn
Woods at edirector@methadone.org or by telephone at 917-846-9983<o:p></o:p></div>
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Download <a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/2019%200403Press%20Release.pdf" target="_blank">Press Release</a> </div>
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Download <a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/2019%20NOMINATION%20FORMS.docx" target="_blank">NOMINATION FORM docx</a></div>
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Download <a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/2019%20NOMINATION%20FORMS.pdf" target="_blank">NOMINATION FORM pdf</a> </div>
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<b><span style="color: #001a81; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></b></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-37403374103248978602018-07-02T00:00:00.000-04:002018-07-14T20:09:45.337-04:00Congratulations Walter Ginter<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Contacts Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Carmen Pearman-Arlt, President, <a href="mailto:carlt@porterstarke.org">carlt@porterstarke.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1-212-595-62620<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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July 2, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #001a81; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #001a81; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">Recipient of the 2018
Lisa Mojer-Torres Award</span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #001a81; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">America Honors Recovery is Faces & Voices of Recovery's
annual awards gala which celebrates and honors the most influential recovery
community leaders and organizations. The event salutes the legacies of three
dynamic recovery trailblazers who dedicated their lives to removing barriers
for individuals and families affected by addiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SRllnmftOx8/W0qOpQAWfnI/AAAAAAAAAFw/G5oY20mXogkbdyqgI9MF_24Aa7J444ouQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Walter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="278" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SRllnmftOx8/W0qOpQAWfnI/AAAAAAAAAFw/G5oY20mXogkbdyqgI9MF_24Aa7J444ouQCEwYBhgL/s200/Walter.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">THE LISA
MOJER-TORRES AWARD<span style="font-size: 19pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Lisa Mojer-Torres Award honors a tenacious fighter who
believed in the dignity and rights of every person. Her inquiring and
challenging mind offered new insights and by example, she encouraged us to
stand up and speak out on behalf of all pathways to recovery, including the use
of medications. </span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Lisa sat on the Board of Directors of NAMA Recovery twice. In
the mid-1990s as a Vice President she helped to reorganize NAMA
Recovery. She left the board to work on the founding of Faces & Voices
of Recovery (FAVOR) and as the first Chair of the organization. Her
determination and advocacy contributed to a significant shift in the recovery
community and the need to end discriminatory policies directed at MAT patients.</span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OtwnxefeAn8/W0qO3VFK4gI/AAAAAAAAAF0/gmrJMjkS2t8d8TLMvKLEvWLzYl2LWCx_ACLcBGAs/s1600/Lisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OtwnxefeAn8/W0qO3VFK4gI/AAAAAAAAAF0/gmrJMjkS2t8d8TLMvKLEvWLzYl2LWCx_ACLcBGAs/s200/Lisa.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">After leaving FAVOR she joined the NAMA Recovery Board of
Directors a second time to serve as legal liaison.</span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Lisa fit her passion and advocacy into an already busy life -
giving of her time and talent while juggling work and family life with her
husband Roland and sons Matthew and Liam. She brought her story of recovery
with compassion to diverse communities and tailored her communications to fit
each audience – be it service providers, researchers, policymakers, family
members or people seeking or in long-term recovery. She was a recovery
communicator – speaking clearly, poignantly and passionately about her own
experiences. She built lasting bridges across the recovery community, “the more
we learn about addiction, the advances of science, the full range of treatments
and the variety of paths leading to recovery, the better prepared we will be to
choose our own path.”</span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Lisa was everywhere. She was an attorney who specialized in
civil rights law for persons in recovery. Her advocacy activities spanned
television and press interviews, Congressional testimony, policy advisor (from
the Institute of Medicine to CSAT’s National Advisory Committee), one-on-one
lobbying, author, and relentless educator and courageous defender. Lisa died in
2011 after a prolonged struggle with ovarian cancer. </span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">We salute
her tireless, passionate, committed advocacy for recovery.</span></b><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Walter
Ginter</span></b><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Walter Ginter is a founding Project Director of the Medication
Assisted Recovery Support (M.A.R.S.) Project. The M.A.R.S. Project is designed
to provide peer recovery support to persons whose recovery from opiate
addiction is assisted by medication. It is collaboration with the Division of
Substance Abuse, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University.
Beyond MARS Training, Mr. Ginter has worked for the last five years training
OTP's, RCO's, and government organizations on how to implement peer recovery
support services for the medication assisted recovery community.</span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Mr. Ginter, a former Board Director for Faces and Voices of
Recovery (FaVoR), was a Member of the National Policy and Planning Committee,
and the Accreditation sub-committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors
for the National Alliance for Medication Assisted (NAMA) Recov-ery the premier
advocacy and recovery for MAT patients.</span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Mr. Ginter was a planning partner for National Recovery Month.
Additionally, he has served on several committees of the New York State Office
of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) as a voice for MAT patients.
He has been a member of more than thirty federal expert panels and advisory
groups.</span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Mr. Ginter received the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient
Advocacy Award "in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to MAT
patients and the field of opiate addiction treatment" at the 2009 American
Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) National Conference
in NYC, the Vernon Johnson America Honors Recovery Award from FAVOR and the
Robert Savage Advocate of the Year from the Connecticut Committee for Addiction
Recovery Award (CCAR).</span><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Congratulations,
Walter, for your commitment and dedication </span></b><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">to making
MAT treatment better for patients.</span></b><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">We at NAMA
Recovery are so proud.</span></b><span style="color: #36495f; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-25006460076326575162018-05-14T00:00:00.000-04:002018-05-14T17:35:08.122-04:00NAMA RECOVERY STATEMENT TO OPPOSE THE OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND PATIENT SAFETY ACT (HR 3545)<br />
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<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Contacts Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Carmen Pearman-Arlt, President, <a href="mailto:carlt@porterstarke.org">carlt@porterstarke.org</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1-212-595-62620<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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May 14, 2018<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The National Alliance for Medication Assisted
Recovery (NAMA Recovery) has been the premier voice for persons receiving
Medication Assisted Treatment since 1988. MAT</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> has been disparaged
as a “substitute drug” by those who ignore the positive benefits that it has
clearly brought to society. These attitudes negatively impact opiate treatment
programs (OTPs) in a variety of ways, but it is the patients themselves who are
particularly stigmatized and harmed. The atmosphere will not change as long as
there is no organization or formal mechanism for patients receiving Medication
Assisted Treatment (MAT i.e. methadone and buprenorphine) to voice their own
needs and to form a strong unified public presence on their own behalf. NAMA
Recovery actively responds to the issues that affect the daily lives of MAT
patients and work towards the day when they can take pride in their
accomplishments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">NAMA Recovery<b> steadfastly oppose the undoing of
42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality protections and oppose the dismantling of the
existing Public Health Law- which authorizes 42 CFR Part 2. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">NAMA Recovery is opposed to the Overdose Prevention
and Patient Safety Act (HR 3545) and the exceptions it would make to the
current public health law related to confidentiality of our health information.
MAT patients need to know who and where their medical information goes for
purposes of treatment, payment, health care operations or for any other purpose.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
our judgement, the majority has been lobbied hard by people in the insurance
industry, hospital associations and vendors of electronic record keeping
systems. They want the core protections to be removed for their own interests
and they have no concern about the lives of patients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
are asking everyone that cares about MAT to write a letter. The template is below and it should only take
a few minutes. The email addresses to
send the letter to follow the letter. If you do not want to give your name then
use an alias like Mary Methadone or Tommy Treatment and add:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Signed
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mary
Methadone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
cannot sign my real name because I am afraid of the prejudice directed towards
methadone (buprenorphine) patients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[<span style="background: lightgrey; mso-highlight: lightgrey;">Date</span>]<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: lightgrey;">[Your Name or
Organization]</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: lightgrey;">[Address]</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: lightgrey;">[Address]</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Representative
Greg Walden</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chairman <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Energy and
Commerce Committee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2185 Rayburn
House Office Building<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Washington,
DC 20515 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Representative
Frank Pallone, Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ranking
Membero sent it to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">U.S.
House of Representatives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Energy
and Commerce Committee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">237
Cannon House Office Building<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Washington,
DC 20515<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">RE: Opposition to H.R. 3545 - “Overdose Prevention and Patient
Safety Act” and Support for Other Legislative Proposals to Preserve
Confidentiality and Coordinate Care<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dear
Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: lightgrey;">[I/Organization name]</span></i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> write to
express our opposition to H.R. 3545, the “Overdose Prevention and Patient
Safety Act.” In the midst of the worst
opioid epidemic in our nation’s history, we must do everything possible to
increase the number of people who seek treatment, but H.R. 3545 would do the
opposite.<b> By reducing privacy protections for
individuals receiving substance use disorder (“SUD”) treatment to allow disclosures
and re-disclosures of SUD information without patient consent to a wide range
of health care providers and plans and others with whom they work, H.R. 3545 would
discourage people from entering care out of fear that their treatment records
will be used against them in many harmful ways.
</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: lightgrey;">[Describe who you are and the importance of
confidentiality and patient consent to you.
If possible, cite examples of its benefits, particularly as they relate
to accessing and staying in SUD treatment and/or protecting against
discrimination and other negative</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #d9d9d9;"> consequences of unauthorized disclosures of SUD information.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #d9d9d9;">[Here
are some examples of reasons you can give for opposing this bill]</span></i><span style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The heightened protections for
substance use disorder records in the federal confidentiality law, 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2
and its regulations at 42 CFR Part 2 (collectively known as “Part 2”), are as
critically important today as ever. They
support care coordination while maintaining patient confidentiality to help ensure
that people enter SUD treatment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">SAMHSA’s amendments to Part 2 by in
2017 and 2018 have made it much easier to facilitate (with patient consent) the
sharing of health information between SUD and other health care providers in electronic
health information systems and coordinated care settings. Unfortunately, many
in the health care system do not know what these rules allow, and many SUD
treatment programs do not have adequate computer systems to enable them to
maintain electronic health records.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Patients in substance abuse disorder
treatment should retain the power to decide when and to whom their records are
disclosed, given the continued prevalence of discrimination in our society. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For
these reasons, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #BFBFBF; mso-shading-themecolor: background1; mso-shading-themeshade: 191;">I/we]</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
oppose H.R. 3545 and instead support</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the
following bills that are critical to preserving patient confidentiality and
coordinating care between various health providers:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Senate’s bipartisan ‘‘Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018:’’</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
Provides model programs and materials for training health providers and
compliance staff on the permitted uses and disclosures of substance use
disorder information, and training family members and patients on their rights
to protect and obtain substance use disorder information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">H.R.
3331 – Introduced by Representative Lynn Jenkins and co-sponsored by Representative
Doris Matsui: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Provides needed incentive payments to
substance use disorder and behavioral health providers to obtain certified
electronic health record technology.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thank
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[<span style="background: lightgrey; mso-highlight: lightgrey;">NAME</span>]</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[<span style="background: lightgrey; mso-highlight: lightgrey;">TITLE</span>]<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[<span style="background: lightgrey; mso-highlight: lightgrey;">AFFILIATION</span>]<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Your
correspondence should be e-mailed to the Minority House Energy and Commerce
Committee staffer, Waverly Gordon, (</span><a href="mailto:Waverly.Gordon@mail.house.gov">Waverly.Gordon@mail.house.gov</a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">)
and the Majority House Energy and Commerce Committee staffer,</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Kristen Shatynski (</span><a href="mailto:Kristen.Shatynski@mail.house.gov">Kristen.Shatynski@mail.house.gov</a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Resources</span></b></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/Patient%20Confidentiality%20Campaign%20Launched.docx" target="_blank">Patient Confidentiality Campaign Launched</a> in 42 CFR
Part 2 Battle</span></b></span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">by
<i>Alison Knopf, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly, October 2, 2017 </i></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/The%20Campaign%20to%20Protect%2042%20CFR%20Part%202.docx" target="_blank">The Campaign to Protect 42 CFR Part 2 </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/Consensus%20Principles.pdf" target="_blank">Consensus Principles </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-45034676955867781892017-07-29T23:35:00.003-04:002017-07-30T00:03:48.074-04:00Nominations Open for the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Contacts Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Carmen Pearman-Arlt, President, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">carlt@porterstarke.org</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">edirector@methadone.org</a><o:p></o:p><br />
Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1-212-595-62620)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
July 30, 2017<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Richard Lane was a long-term heroin user who, upon release
from prison in 1967, was instrumental in establishing one of the Nation’s first
methadone treatment programs. In 1974, he became the Executive Director of Man
Alive and later served as Vice President of the American Methadone Treatment
Association (now AATOD) and as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Council on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
Lane was a passionate advocate for methadone treatment and, by disclosing his
own treatment experiences, provided inspiration to patients and colleagues
alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Robert Holden was also a recovering heroin user, who later
became the Director of PIDARC, an outpatient methadone treatment program in the
District of Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a friend of
Richard Lane and succeeded Richard Lane’s term of office as the Vice President
of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This award was established in 1995 and
recognizes extraordinary achievements in patient advocacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The following criteria should be applied in making your
selection:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Only one (1) nominee can be submitted to the
Conference Awards Committee. There may be a number of nominees however only one
(1) “consensus” nominee may receive this honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The nominee must have been involved in the field
of methadone advocacy for a period of five (5) years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The nominee must have made meaningful and
consistent contributions, which have had a significant impact on opioid
treatment within a state or region of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->For each nominee a Nomination Form must be
completed and submitted with two (2) Letters of Support. The Nomination Form is
attached to this announcement and can also be downloaded from the NAMA Recovery
website<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a href="http://www.methadone.org/">http://www.methadone.org</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
NAMA Recovery will be responsible for collecting all the
submissions for nomination and selecting a committee of advocates that will
decide on the final candidate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Candidate’s Name, Nomination Form and at least two (2) Letters of Support
describing the nominee’s achievements will be submitted to the AATOD Conference
Awards Committee for the final approval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The deadline for Submissions is February 26, 2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The completed Nomination Form along with at
least two (2) Letters of Support should be sent to Joycelyn Woods at
<a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Previous Winners of the Award<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1995, Arizona<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Richard Lane<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2001, St. Louis<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Joycelyn
Woods<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2007, San Diego<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anthony Scro<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2009, New York<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Walter Ginter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2010, Chicago<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lisa Mojer Torres<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2012, Las Vegas<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Roxanne Baker<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2013, Philadelphia<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ira Marion<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2015, Atlanta<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Claude
Hopkins<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2016, Baltimore<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brenda Davis<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the
Awards Banquet Ceremony<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on Monday, March
12, 2018 during AATOD’s next National Conference which will convene<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at the New York Marriott Marquis located in
the heart of Times Square.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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The recipient will be provided with a roundtrip Coach Class
airfare, up to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>two (2) nights in the
hotel and Conference Registration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deadline:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>September 1,
2017<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Email Nominations
To:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joycelyn Woods<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org<o:p></o:p></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If you have any questions about the award contact Joycelyn
Woods at edirector@methadone.org or by telephone at 917-846-9983<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Download the <a href="http://www.methadone.org/2017%20Lane%20Holden%20Forms.pdf" target="_blank">Submission Forms</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Download the <a href="http://www.methadone.org/2017%200730Press%20Release.pdf" target="_blank">Press Release</a> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-84543686220213892142016-05-30T17:47:00.004-04:002016-07-04T12:17:03.137-04:00Congratulations Brenda Davis 2016 Recipient of the Lane/Holden Patient Advocacy Award<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Contacts Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director/Acting President, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org"><span style="color: #5588aa;">edirector@methadone.org</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1-212-595-62620<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
May 31, 2016<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
NAMA-R extends well-earned
congratulations to Brenda Davis this year’s recipient of the Lane/Holden
Patient Advocacy Award.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
Brenda Davis has been a model
patient in the Methadone Maintenance Program at the Mount Sinai /Beth Israel
Program for approximately three decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For approximately 20 years she has been employed as a patient advocate
for the thousands of patients treated in the various clinics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this period Ms. Davis has acquired a
comprehensive background to accomplish her job duties. She has also assumed
duties as treasurer of NAMA Recovery and was instrumental in establishing the
MARS Project in the Mount Sinai/ Beth Israel Methadone program. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
She is known for her knowledge of
the intricate regulations and procedures of the clinics. She has mastered the
medical and social aspects of methadone maintenance including: stabilization,
side effects, and drug interactions; the major health concerns of patients
including pregnancy, pain, infectious diseases; and the personal and social
issues including the pervasive stigma which patients encounter in the course of
their treatment and lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
Brenda Davis is articulate and is
capable of communicating intelligently with patients, physicians, counselors
and administrative personnel in the program. She has attended conferences and
participated in policy meetings with various governmental agencies including
OASAS. The administration of the Mount Sinai/ Beth Israel Methadone program has
also been impressed with the breath of her knowledge and her capacity to help
settle problems which arise in the clinics between patients and the staff,
issues that arise in the patients’ family, and criminal justice matters. Ms. Davis
is a strong willed woman and takes her responsibility to speak for MAT patients
as a sense of duty.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u> <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Requirements <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Only
one “consensus” nominee can be submitted to the Conference Awards Committee to
receive this honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The nominee must have been involved in the field
of methadone advocacy for a period of five years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The nominee must have made meaningful and
consistent contributions, which have had a significant impact on opioid
treatment within a state or region of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the
Awards Banquet Ceremony on November 1, 2016 during AATOD’s next National
Conference which will convene at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">History of the Award<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This award was established in 1995 and recognizes
extraordinary achievements in patient advocacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Richard Lane was a long-term heroin user who, upon release
from prison in 1967, was instrumental in establishing one of the Nation’s first
methadone treatment programs. In 1974, he became the Executive Director of Man
Alive and later served as Vice President of the American Methadone Treatment
Association (now AATOD) and as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Council on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
Lane was a passionate advocate for methadone treatment and, by disclosing his
own treatment experiences, provided inspiration to patients and colleagues
alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Robert Holden was also a recovering heroin user, who later
became the Director of PIDARC, an outpatient methadone treatment program in the
District of Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a friend of
Richard Lane and succeeded Richard Lane’s term of office as the Vice President
of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Previous Winners of the Award<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0in 4.0in;">
1995, Arizona<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Richard Lane<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
2001, St. Louis<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Joycelyn Woods<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2007, San Diego<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anthony Scro<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2009, New York<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Walter Ginter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2010, Chicago<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lisa Mojer Torres<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2012, Las Vegas<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Roxanne Baker<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2013, Philadelphia<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ira Marion<o:p></o:p><br />
2015, Atlanta<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Claude
Hopkins<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2016_0530Congratulations_Brenda_Davis.pdf" target="_blank">Download PDF</a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms";"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-33179941738027268142016-04-11T18:50:00.000-04:002016-07-04T12:06:24.020-04:00 Proposed Rule - 42 CFR Part 2 - Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulations <span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Attn: SAMHSA
4162-20<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">5600 Fishers
Lane<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Room 13N02B<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Rockville,
MD 20857<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">RE:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Proposed Rule - 42 CFR Part 2 - Confidentiality of Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulations (SAMHSA-4162-20) (Published Federal
Register 2-9-2016: p 6987 -7024) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">To Whom It
May Concern:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="p7" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Since
its beginning methadone treatment has been demonstrated to be the most
effective treatment for narcotic addiction, resulting in the termination of
heroin use and of criminal behavior. In spite of this success, methadone
treatment is often disparaged as a “substitute drug” by those who ignore the
positive benefits that it has clearly brought to society. These attitudes
negatively impact on opiate treatment programs in a variety of ways, but it is
the methadone patients themselves who are particularly stigmatized and harmed.
With the introduction of buprenorphine it was hoped that the public would gain
a greater understanding of opiate addiction and treatment. However, this has
not occurred and rather than improving the situation buprenorphine patients
experience the same discrimination and stigma as patients receiving
methadone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The atmosphere will not
change as long as there is no organization or formal mechanism for patients
receiving Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT i.e. methadone and buprenorphine)
to voice their own needs and to form a strong unified public presence on their
own behalf. The National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery (NAMA
Recovery) is an organization of methadone and buprenorphine patients, healthcare
professionals, friends, and associates working together for greater public
understanding and acceptance of MAT.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> NAMA Recovery has 25 chapters across the United States and 15
international affiliate chapters from England to Denmark and India to
Australia, providing information, education and advocacy support to patients
receiving MAT.<span style="color: black;"> As the premier national advocacy
organization for MAT patients NAMA Recovery will actively respond to the issues
that affect the daily lives of MAT patients and work towards the day when they
can take pride in their accomplishments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The NPRM for 42 CFR Part 2 recognizes that the regulation was
enacted out of great concern about the potential abuse that disclosure of
substance use information can create for persons in treatment and that the
release of substance use information can cause individuals with substance use
disorders to not seek needed treatment. When confidentiality is not maintained<span style="color: black;">, the trust of the patients will be lost and many will not
remain in treatment while those who do continue in treatment will have lost the
trust in the clinic and the staff which is indispensable to successful patient
treatment.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 27pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">While NAMA-R recognizes that SAMHSA is attempting to create an
appropriate balance between preserving the confidentiality rights of substance
use disorder patients and the sharing of electronic health information we
believe that currently there are not enough technologic safe guards in
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition the fines for any
violation of the NPRM like the current rule are very low and would be
meaningless to many institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 27pt 0pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Health
information technology offers a greater opportunity to promote the health of
individuals and the health of community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, sacrificing the wellbeing of a person seeking help for a
substance use disorder in the name of convenience or administrative efficiency
is not a constructive way to achieve it for either the person or their
community when individuals avoid treatment for fear of retribution and discrimination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 27pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">NAMA-R recommends that changes in 42 CFR Part 2 be temporarily set
aside until the technology is available to protect persons with a substance use
disorder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Thank you
for your consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Joycelyn
Woods, M.A., CMA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Executive Director<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namaletters/2016_0411NAMAR-42CFR_Part2.pdf" target="_blank">Download PDF</a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-11615074335207842462016-01-29T16:44:00.000-05:002016-07-04T12:43:36.610-04:00Nominations Open for the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>Contact Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, Acting President <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org"><span style="color: #5588aa;">edirector@methadone.org</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1-212-595-62620)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>For Release<o:p></o:p></b></div>
January 29, 2016<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nominations Open for the<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Richard Lane was a long-term heroin user who, upon release
from prison in 1967, was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>instrumental in
establishing one of the Nation’s first methadone treatment programs. In<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1974, he became the Executive Director of Man
Alive and later served as Vice President<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>of the American Methadone Treatment Association (now AATOD) and as
Vice<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chairman of the Governor’s Council
on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Lane<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was a passionate
advocate for methadone treatment and, by disclosing his own treatment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>experiences, provided inspiration to patients
and colleagues alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Robert Holden was also a recovering heroin user, who later
became the Director of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PIDARC, an
outpatient methadone treatment program in the District of Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was
a friend of Richard Lane and succeeded Richard Lane’s term of office as the
Vice<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President of the American
Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>award was established in 1995 and recognizes extraordinary achievements
in patient<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>advocacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The following criteria should be applied in making your
selection:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Only one (1) nominee can be submitted to the
Conference Awards Committee. There may be a number of nominees however only one
(1) “consensus” nominee may receive this honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The nominee must have been involved in the field
of methadone advocacy for a period of five (5) years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The nominee must have made meaningful and
consistent contributions, which have had a significant impact on opioid
treatment within a state or region of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->For each nominee a Nomination Form must be
completed and submitted with two (2) Letters of Support. The Nomination Form is
attached to this announcement and can also be downloaded from the NAMA Recovery
website<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>http://www.methadone.org.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
NAMA Recovery will be responsible for collecting all the
submissions for nomination and selecting a committee of advocates that will
decide on the final candidate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candidate’s Name, Nomination Form and at
least two (2) Letters of Support describing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the nominee’s achievements will be submitted to the AATOD Conference
Awards<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Committee for the final
approval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The deadline for Submissions is February 26, 2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The completed Nomination Form along with at
least two (2) Letters of Support should be sent to Joycelyn Woods at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>edirector@methadone.org.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Previous Winners of the Award<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0in 4.0in;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1995, Arizona<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard Lane<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2001, St. Louis<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joycelyn
Woods<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2007, San Diego<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">A</span>nthony Scro<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2009, New York<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walter Ginter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2010, Chicago<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa Mojer Torres<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2012, Las Vegas<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roxanne Baker<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2013, Philadelphia<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ira Marion<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2015, Atlanta<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Claude
Hopkins<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the
Awards Banquet Ceremony<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on November 1,
2016 during AATOD’s next National Conference which will convene<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The recipient will be provided with a roundtrip Coach Class
airfare, up to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>two (2) nights in the
hotel and Conference Registration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deadline:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>February 26, 2016<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
Email Nominations
To:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Joycelyn Woods<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>edirector@methadone.org<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If you have any questions about the award contact Joycelyn
Woods at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>edirector@methadone.org or by
telephone at 917-846-9983<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2016_0129-LaneHolden_Nominations.pdf" target="_blank">Download Press Release</a><br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2016_0129-LaneHolden_Forms(word).docx" target="_blank">Download Forms in Word</a><br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2016_0129-LaneHolden_Forms.pdf" target="_blank">Download Form in PDF</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-40031020165754152482014-08-08T02:15:00.000-04:002016-07-04T13:33:26.180-04:00Nominations Open for the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><o:p> </o:p></b><br />
<b>Contacts Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org"><span style="color: #5588aa;">edirector@methadone.org</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
Roxanne Baker, President, <a href="mailto:president@methadone.org"><span style="color: #5588aa;">president@methadone.org</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(1-212-595-6262)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Richard Lane was a long-term heroin user who, upon release
from prison in 1967, was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>instrumental in
establishing one of the Nation’s first methadone treatment programs. In<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1974, he became the Executive Director of Man
Alive and later served as Vice President<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>of the American Methadone Treatment Association (now AATOD) and as
Vice<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chairman of the Governor’s Council
on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Lane<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was a passionate
advocate for methadone treatment and, by disclosing his own treatment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>experiences, provided inspiration to patients
and colleagues alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Robert Holden was also a recovering heroin user, who later
became the Director of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PIDARC, an
outpatient methadone treatment program in the District of Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was
a friend of Richard Lane and succeeded Richard Lane’s term of office as the
Vice<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President of the American
Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This award was established in 1995 and recognizes
extraordinary achievements in patient advocacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The following criteria should be applied in making your
selection:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Only one (1) nominee can be submitted to the
Conference Awards Committee. There may be a number of nominees however only one
(1) “consensus” nominee may receive this honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The nominee must have been involved in the field
of methadone advocacy for a period of five (5) years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The nominee must have made meaningful and
consistent contributions, which have had a significant impact on opioid
treatment within a state or region of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->For each nominee a Nomination Form must be
completed and submitted with two (2) Letters of Support. The Nomination Form is
attached to this announcement and can also be downloaded from the NAMA Recovery
website<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>http://www.methadone.org.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
NAMA Recovery will be responsible for collecting all the
submissions for nomination and selecting a committee of advocates that will
decide on the final candidate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candidate’s Name, Nomination Form and at
least two (2) Letters of Support describing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the nominee’s achievements will be submitted to the AATOD Conference
Awards<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Committee for the final
approval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The deadline for Submissions is September 12, 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The completed Nomination Form along with at
least two (2) Letters of Support should be sent to Joycelyn Woods at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>edirector@methadone.org.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Previous Winners of the Award</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
1995, Arizona<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard Lane<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
2001, St. Louis<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joycelyn
Woods<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2007, San Diego<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anthony Scro<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2009, New York<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walter Ginter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2010, Chicago<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> L</span>isa Mojer Torres<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2012, Las Vegas<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roxanne Baker<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
2013, Philadelphia<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ira Marion<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the
Awards Banquet Ceremony<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on March 31,
2015 during AATOD’s next National Conference which will convene<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The recipient will be provided with the following: a
roundtrip Coach Class airfare, up to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>two
(2) nights in the hotel and Conference Registation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deadline:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>September 12,
2014<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Email Nominations
To:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Joycelyn Woods<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
For questions about the award contact Joycelyn
Woods at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org">edirector@methadone.org</a> or by
telephone at 718-742-7804<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2014_0808-Lane_Holden_Forms.pdf.pdf" target="_blank">Download Nomination Forms</a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2014_0808-Suggestions.pdf" target="_blank">Download Suggestions for Persons Nominating</a> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAR2014_0808-LaneHolden_Nominations.pdf" target="_blank">Download Press Release</a></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<o:p> </o:p><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-73841776878146872852014-06-16T16:00:00.000-04:002016-07-04T13:08:41.496-04:00Tell SAMHSA Not To Violate Your Civil Right to Confidentiality<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><o:p> </o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.25in;">
<b>Contact Persons</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.25in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, <a href="mailto:edirector@methadone.org"><span style="color: #5588aa;">edirector@methadone.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Roxanne
Baker, President, <a href="mailto:president@methadone.org"><span style="color: #5588aa;">president@methadone.org</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Phone/Fax:
212.595.NAMA<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(212-595-62620)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Most hospitals and medical
centers now have in operation what is called electronic health records or
Health Information Technology (HIT).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Basically this means that doctors in their private offices, medical
centers, pharmacies and state prescription monitoring programs all have access
to your health records.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Records in
methadone programs are excluded because of the Confidentiality Regulations (42
CFR Part 2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For any information to
leave the program a patient must sign a release that requires the request to be
exact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It is proposed that methadone programs be connected to
the health information system theat would give any medical professional access
to your drug treatment information. In fact medical professionals are not the
only ones that could access your information either legally or illegally.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Do
you want the right to develop a relationship with a medical professional and
then if they are objective tell them you are enrolled in a methadone program?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want the right to protect your
treatment from insurance companies, employers, criminal justice systems –
actually everyone?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Professionals and Policy
Makers do not understand the stigma and prejudice that especially methadone
patients experience in their daily lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Very often if you tell a doctor you are a methadone patient you get a
lecture to get off methadone because it is bad for you with no medical care or
treatment for what you came there for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is what they need to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your experiences when you try to get medical care outside of the program
and how you feel that Confidentiality is Your Civil Right..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">For
information about 42 CFR Part 2 go to: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.methadone.org/"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #5588aa;">http://www.methadone.org</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><a href="http://www.samhsa.gov/healthprivacy"><i><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11pt;">http://www.samhsa.gov/healthprivacy</span></u></i></a><i><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Send
Comments to: </span><a href="mailto:PrivacyRegulations@SAMHSA.hhs.gov"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11pt;">PrivacyRegulations@SAMHSA.hhs.gov</span></u></i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #5588aa;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;">Mail Comments to: </span></span>Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville,
MD 20857, Room 5-1011.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Send By:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>June 25, 2014 (if you mail after they should still accept it)</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<strong>Downloads</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Read how the special confidentiality regulations came about <a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/1977Confidentiality-People_v_Newman(Newman).pdf" target="_blank">The Case of People vs Newman</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">From Dr. Robert Newman's book about the New York City program this chapter is how the confidentiality regulations were created and put into effect.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newman, Robert G. In:The Case of People vs Newman. (</span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chapter 6) Methadone Treatment in Narcotic Addiction: Program Management, Findings, and Prospects for the Future</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. New York: Academic Press; 1977: pp. 62.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/namadocuments/NAMAPR2014_0616-Tell_SAMHSA_Not_To_Violate_Your_Civil_Right_Confidentiality.pdf" target="_blank">Press Release</a> Tell SAMHSA Not To Violate Your Civil Right Confidentiality.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>TIPS </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>What to Write to SAMHSA</strong></div>
<br />
1. Don't write a long letter. A simple paragraph to say that it is important that the confidentiality remain as they currently are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
2. You can tell them about an incident or situation like what usually happens when a doctor finds out you are a methadone patient.<br />
<br />
3. It does not have to be typed. A hand written letter on legal pad paper is fine and often better because it means that the/a average patient has taken the time to say how important the confidentiality regulations.<br />
<br />
4. You do not have to sign your name. You can sign the letter as "A Patient" and below it enter a P.S. and say "I am afraid to sign my name because of the discrimination against methadone patients."<br />
<br />
Example<br />
<br />
Dear SAMHSA:<br />
<br />
I understand that you are considering changing the confidentiality regulations for methadone treatment. It is important that the confidentiality regulations remain as they are and not be changed.<br />
<br />
I am a methadone patient and I am concerned what could happen if my status as a methadone patient were known. I know that I would have trouble getting medical care because doctors always blame any medical problem on the methadone. Doctors and nurses don't understand methadone and they tell me to get off.<br />
<br />
I am also concerned that employers and schools will be able to find out that I am a methadone patient if changes to the confidentiality regulations happen.<br />
<br />
Please don't change the confidentiality regulations that has protected me and all patients from the discrimination against us.<br />
<br />
Thank you.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
A Patient*<br />
<br />
* I am afraid to sign my name because of the discrimination against methadone patients.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What is important is that you write.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -9pt 0pt 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-9195154533892617912014-06-02T16:00:00.000-04:002016-07-04T13:49:07.165-04:00Notice of SAMHSA Listening Session Confidentiality Regulations 42 CFR part 2<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Press Release</span></b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contact Persons</b>:<br />
</span><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Joycelyn Woods, Executive
Director, edirector@methadone.org<br />
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org<br />
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">SAMHSA the federal agency in
charge of methadone treatment is scheduling a Listening Session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to hear from professionals and
especially patients about Confidentiality and your treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Most hospitals and medical
centers now have in operation what is called electronic health records or
Health Information Technology (HIT).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Basically this means that doctors in their private offices and medical
centers all have access to your health records.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Records in methadone programs are excluded
because of the Confidentiality Regulations (42 CFR part 2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For any information to leave the program a
patient must sign a release.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">However if methadone programs were connected to the
health information system then any medical professional would have access to
your drug treatment information.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Or do you want the right to
develop a relationship with a medical professional and then if they are
objective tell them you are enrolled in a methadone program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Professionals and Policy
Makers do not understand the stigma and prejudice that especially methadone
patients experience when trying to access health care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very often if you tell a doctor you are a
methadone patient you get a lecture to get off methadone because it is bad for
you and no medical care or treatment for what you came for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what they need to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your experiences when you try to get medical
care outside of the program and you tell them you are a methadone patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The session is open to the public and you can
join it on the internet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Date:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>June 11,
2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Time:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>9:30am –
4:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">For
information about 42 CFR part 2 and the Listening Session go to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://www.samhsa.gov/healthprivacy"><i><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11pt;">http://www.samhsa.gov/healthprivacy</span></u></i></a><i><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">To
Register – go to: </span><a href="http://42cfrpart2-listeningsession.eventbrite.com/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11pt;">http://42cfrpart2-listeningsession.eventbrite.com</span></u></i></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Send
Comments to: </span><a href="mailto:PrivacyRegulations@SAMHSA.hhs.gov"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11pt;">PrivacyRegulations@SAMHSA.hhs.gov</span></u></i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #5588aa;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Read the story of how the confidentiality regulations came about.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">From Dr. Robert Newman's book about the New York City program and how the confidentiality regulations were created and put into effect.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">From Newman, Robert G. In: </span><i><span style="font-size: small;">Chapter 6. Methadone Treatment in Narcotic Addiction: Program Management, Findings, and Prospects for the Future</span></i><span style="font-size: small;">. New York: Academic Press; 1977: pp. 62.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Download: <span style="font-size: small;"><strong><a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/1977Confidentiality-People_v_Newman(Newman).pdf" target="_blank">1977 Confidentiality - The Case of People vs Newman</a></strong></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Download: <a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/2014_0512FR-Confidentiality_Alcohol_Drug_Abuse_Patient_Records.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Federal Register Confidentiality Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records (5-12-14)</strong></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Download: <a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2014_0602-SAMHSA_Listening_Session-Confidentiality.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Press Release (pdf)</strong></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.5in 3.5in;">
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-85003102716799448262014-02-14T00:00:00.000-05:002016-07-04T13:52:48.526-04:00Download the SAMHSA Disaster App<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Press Release</span></b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contact Persons</b>:<br />
</span><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Joycelyn Woods, Executive
Director, edirector@methadone.org<br />
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org<br />
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #721213; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms";">Your SAMHSA Disaster App</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #721213; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms";">Is Ready To
Download!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The SAMHSA Disaster App is
now available for download on your iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry device. Be
among the first to try out this essential behavioral health disaster response
app. Let the SAMHSA Disaster App assist you in responding to survivors'
behavioral health needs. Access critical, disaster-related resources directly
from your phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Be focused.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Spend less time worrying about logistics so you
can focus on what really matters—the people in need.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Be prepared.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Rely on and access predownloaded resources on
your phone in case of limited Internet connectivity.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Be confident.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Review key preparedness materials so you're
confident about providing the best support possible.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Share resources easily.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Send information to colleagues and survivors via
text message or email, or transfer the information to a computer for
printing.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Download the SAMHSA Disaster App and give it a test run. Help SAMHSA
improve future versions by sending feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2014_0214-SAMHSADisasterApp.pdf" target="_blank">Download Press Release</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-277581433415159262013-02-12T16:00:00.000-05:002016-07-04T14:04:56.623-04:00Nominations Open for the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Press Release</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #555544; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Contact Persons</span></strong></span><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:</span>
</span><br />
<span style="color: #555544; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, edirector@methadone.org<br />
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org<br />
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA</span>
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<br />
Richard Lane was a long-term heroin user who, upon release from prison in 1967, was instrumental in establishing one of the Nation’s first methadone treatment programs. In 1974, he became the Executive Director of Man Alive and later served as Vice President of the American Methadone Treatment Association (now AATOD) and as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland. Mr. Lane was a passionate advocate for methadone treatment and, by disclosing his own treatment experiences, provided inspiration to patients and colleagues alike.<br />
<br />
<br />
Robert Holden was also a recovering heroin user, who later became the Director of PIDARC, an outpatient methadone treatment program in the District of Columbia. He was a friend of Richard Lane and succeeded Richard Lane’s term of office as the Vice President of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence. This award was established in 1995 and recognizes extraordinary achievements in patient advocacy.<br />
<br />
<strong>The following criteria should be applied in making your selection:</strong><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Only one (1) nominee can be submitted to the Conference Awards Committee. There may be a number of nominees however only one (1) “consensus” nominee may receive this honor.<br /><br />
<li>The nominee must have been involved in the field of methadone advocacy for a period of five (5) years.</li>
<li>The nominee must have made meaningful and consistent contributions, which have had a significant impact on opioid treatment within a state or region of the United States.</li>
<li>For each nominee a Nomination Form must be completed and submitted with two (2) Letters of Support. The Nomination Form is attached to this announcement and can also be downloaded from the NAMA Recovery website <a href="http://www.methadone.org/">http://www.methadone.org</a>.</li>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
NAMA Recovery will be responsible for collecting all the submissions for nomination, selecting a committee of advocates that will decide on the final candidate. The Candidate’s Name, Nomination Form and at least two (2) Letters of Support describing the nominee’s achievements will be submitted to the AATOD Conference Awards Committee for the final approval.<br />
<br />
The deadline for Submissions is March 5, 2013. The completed Nomination Form along with at least two (2) Letters of Support should be sent to Joycelyn Woods at edirector@methadone.org.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Previous Winners of the Award</strong></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<tb align="left" width="50%">1995, Arizona </tb><tb align="left">Richard Lane </tb><tb align="left" width="50%">2001, St. Louis </tb><tb align="left">Joycelyn Woods </tb><tb align="left" width="50%">2007, Atlanta </tb><tb align="left">Anthony Scro </tb><tb align="left" width="50%">2009, New York </tb><tb align="left">Walter Ginter </tb><tb align="left" width="50%">2010, Chicago <tb></tb>Lisa Mojer Torres </tb><tb align="left" width="50%">2012, Las Vegas </tb><tb align="left">Roxanne Baker </tb><br />
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<br />
This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the Awards Banquet Ceremony on November 12, 2013 during AATOD’s next National Conference which will convene at the Philadelphia Downtown Marriot.<br />
<br />
The individual will be provided with a roundtrip Coach Class airfare in addition to up to two (2) nights in the hotel. The individual will also be able to attend the Conference.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Deadline: March 5, 2013</span></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Email Nominations To: edirector@methadone.org</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Joycelyn Woods</strong></div>
<br />
If you have any questions about the award contact Joycelyn Woods at edirector@methadone.org or by telephone at 718-742-7804<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2013_0212-lane-holden_award.pdf" target="_blank">Download Press Release</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2013_0212-Nomination_Form.pdf" target="_blank">Download Nomination Forms</a> Nomination Form<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-11793129835895995992013-01-14T00:00:00.000-05:002016-07-04T14:35:40.608-04:00Ira Marion 1945-2013<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Press Release</span></b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contact Persons</b>:<br />
</span><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Joycelyn Woods, Executive
Director, edirector@methadone.org<br />
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org<br />
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
It is with sincere sadness and deep regret to have to report on the passing of a NAMA-Recovery Board of Directors member Ira Marion. Ira passed on Monday evening, January 7, 2013 at Beth Israel Medical Center after a struggle with cancer. He was a constant and prolific supporter of Methadone Maintenance Treatment and will be sadly missed by both patients and professional colleagues alike. </div>
<br />
Ira's contributions to the advancement of this life-saving treatment for opioid addiction are numerous and legendary, and he was an untiring champion of both patients' rights and patient centered care. His vision of quality treatment was reflected in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Program which he administered for many years. He was courageous in expressing that he was a "product of the system" and that medication assisted treatment is effective and saves numerous lives on a daily basis. Ira was a member of the founding committee of NAMA over 25 years ago. He was proud of assisting in the development of The MARS Project, a collaboration between Einstein and NAMA-Recovery.<br />
<br />
We ask that you keep Suzanne Hall-Westcott, his children and grandchildren, and everyone dear to him in your thoughts and prayers. The family has planned a private service is being planned and we ask that you refrain from reaching out to the family. <br />
<br />
A memorial service will be planned that will give all of us the opportunity to pay our respects and honor Ira. You can contact NAMA Recovery if you wish to be notified about the service or wish to share your thoughts and we will forward the messages to the family.<br />
<br />
Ira will be missed by all who knew him personally and professionally and we send his family and loved ones our sincere sympathy and condolences. His is a universal loss to the field of addiction treatment which will be felt for years to come. <br />
<br />
Rest in peace, Ira you will not be soon forgotten by both patients and professional associates.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2013_0114-Ira_Marion.pdf" target="_blank">Download Press Release</a> <br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-92043642406523110472012-12-30T15:47:00.001-05:002016-07-04T14:39:42.786-04:00Dear Colleague Letter 12-6-2012 Final Rule Modifying Buprenorphine Dispensing Restrictions in OTPs<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Press Release</span></strong> <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #555544; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contact Persons</b>:<br />
</span><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Joycelyn Woods, Executive
Director, edirector@methadone.org<br />
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org<br />
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--></span><br />
The National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery ‘s (NAMA Recovery) purpose is to represent the interests and rights of patients receiving Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). While NAMA Recovery commends the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment for attempting to equalize Buprenorphine in Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) with Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) prescribing physicians our concern is it will have a negative effect on OTP patients creating a two tier system. We suggest that this is an opportunity to normalize medications within the OTP.<br />
<br />
<br />
Both methadone and buprenorphine should have an induction period so that dose adjustments can be made and to insure that patients are taking their medication daily. At the end of thirty (30) days if patients have negative toxicology and are showing progress that take home medication be started for responsible patients prescribed methadone and buprenorphine. Without these adjustments patients prescribed methadone will be impelled to switch to buprenorphine with often disastrous results (i.e. inadequate dosing, opioid pain medications are difficult to prescribe). <br />
<br />
Including buprenorphine as a medication prescribed in OTPs will most certainly increase diversion of buprenorphine and this in turn results in increased stigma which is already occurring and more restrictive policy. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately it is very probable that those receiving methadone at OTPs will pay the price for any diversion from OTPs whether buprenorphine or methadone. <br />
<br />
We recognize that the services offered in OTPs make them uniquely qualified to treat addictive disorders. NAMA Recovery urges caution to insure that the goals of this Dear Colleague letter are met in making MAT more available and to adjust the policy to make a fairer OTP system.<br />
<br />
Since its beginning methadone treatment has been demonstrated to be the most effective treatment for opioid addiction, resulting in the termination of opioid use and of criminal behavior. In spite of this success, methadone treatment is often disparaged as a “substitute drug” by those who ignore the positive benefits that it has clearly brought to society. These attitudes negatively impact on opiate treatment programs in a variety of ways, but it is the methadone patients themselves who are particularly stigmatized and harmed. With the advances of science and introduction of buprenorphine it was hoped that the stigma and prejudice directed at patients and programs would change. As the premier international advocacy organization for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) the National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery* (NAMA Recovery) will actively respond to the issues that affect the daily lives of MAT patients and work towards the day when they can take pride in their accomplishments.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/2012_1206SAMHSADearColleague-FinalRuleBuprenorphineinOTPs.pdf" target="_blank">Download Dear Colleague Letter</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2012_1231-Dear_Colleague_Letter.pdf" target="_blank">Download NAMAR Press Release</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-56375327147722537152012-06-04T17:00:00.000-04:002016-07-04T14:43:50.422-04:00Walter Ginter to Receive Vernon Johnson Award<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S1L13OYcNyI/T87mSIdj6TI/AAAAAAAAADc/jB-bGxtfKUE/s1600/walter+ginter+award.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S1L13OYcNyI/T87mSIdj6TI/AAAAAAAAADc/jB-bGxtfKUE/s1600/walter+ginter+award.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Faces and Voices of Recovery and Hazelden's Center for Public Advocacy invite you to join us at an evening reception recognizing the outstanding contributions of Walter Ginter, Project Director of the Medication-Assisted Recovery Services (MARS) Project. He is the leading face and voice of medication-assisted treatment and recovery in the US.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 6:00 - 8:00 pm</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Carnegie Institute for Science</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>1530 P Street NW</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Washington, DC 20005</strong></div>
<br />
Emmy-award winning reporter and anchor Pat O’Brien, who will be one of the hosts of the 2012 Olympic Games, will be joining us as we salute the extraordinary contributions of the country's most influential recovery community leaders to the growing movement to promote the reality of recovery from addiction.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Host Committee Co-Chairs*</strong> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td width="50%"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Fmr Congressman Patrick Kennedy </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Co-Chair One Mind for Research </strong></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Carol McDaid </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Capitol Decisions</strong> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Host Committee Members</strong> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td width="50%"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Johnny Allem </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>D</strong><strong>C Recovery Community Alliance </strong></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Franni Frankin </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Aquila Recovery </strong></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td width="50%"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Ann Barnum </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Health Foundation of </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Greater Cincinnati </strong></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Christopher Kennedy Lawford </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Author </strong></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td width="50%"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Tim Cheney </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Chooper's Guide </strong></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Former Congressman </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Jim Ramstad </strong></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td width="50%"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Tom Coderre </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Rhode Island State Senate </strong></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Mike Sime </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Hazelden Foundation </strong></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td width="50%"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Laurie Dhue </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Veteran Broadcast Journalist </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Founder of Laurie Dhue Media, NYC </strong></div>
</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Stuart Smith </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Foundation for Recovery RICAREs </strong></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2">* Organizations listed for identification purposes </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Faces and Voices of Recovery and Hazelden’s Center for Public Advocacy have joined together to host America Honors Recovery honoring the legacies of Joel Hernandez, Vernon Johnson and Lisa Mojer-Torres. All contributions to the America Honors Recovery awards event will go to Faces & Voices. To find out more about this year’s honorees, please click here.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong>NAMA-R Announcement 6/4/2012</strong></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ek01_oNsdGQ/T87t3nxQw5I/AAAAAAAAADo/AJdWpGpYZF8/s1600/nama-recovery-318x140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="88" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ek01_oNsdGQ/T87t3nxQw5I/AAAAAAAAADo/AJdWpGpYZF8/s200/nama-recovery-318x140.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>435 Second Avenue</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>New York, NY 10010</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="http://www.methadone.org/">http://www.methadone.org/</a></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/2012_0516AHR_PR_America_Honors_Recovery.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Download America Honors Recovery Press Release</strong></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2012_0604_Walter_Ginter_Award.pdf" target="_blank">Download NAMA-R Announcement</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-67553257175538933442012-05-29T16:00:00.000-04:002016-07-04T14:50:26.430-04:00Stop Stigma Now: Small Organization Rises to Raise Funds for Methadone Treatment PR Campaign<br />
<a href="http://atforum.com/news/category/newsletter/spring-2012/">ATForum, Spring</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-auHDBiLzXps/T873t160spI/AAAAAAAAAD0/ytGUWP8VKnE/s1600/StopStigmaNow_logo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-auHDBiLzXps/T873t160spI/AAAAAAAAAD0/ytGUWP8VKnE/s1600/StopStigmaNow_logo.JPG" /></a>Stop Stigma Now, a small group of retired opioid treatment program (OTP) providers has a big—and honorable—goal: eradicating stigma against the methadone treatment field. It began about five years ago with the closure of the Mount Sinai Narcotics Rehabilitation Center in New York City, recalls Joycelyn Woods, project coordinator with the National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery (NAMA Recovery).</div>
<br />
The physician and administrator who led that program got together and started talking about the fact that the stigma situation isn’t any better than it was in 2007. “It’s worse,” said Ms. Woods. “Nobody is going to do anything about it unless we do something about it ourselves. I had hoped for a long time that the federal government would do it—they have the money and the resources.”<br />
<br />
Sy Demsky, the former administrator at Mount Sinai (he retired shortly before the closure), and Philip Paris, MD, the physician, helped organize the Stop Stigma Now group. “Their idea is to raise money from new sources and create a huge PR campaign,” said Ms. Woods. One suggested way of raising money was to ask OTP patients—each of whom would contribute one dollar. “The programs have to decide whether to cooperate. This could be impossible to manage,” she said.<br />
<br />
This leaves Stop Stigma Now in a difficult position—doing something very important, without adequate funding to make it happen. With prescription opioid abuse rampant, OTPs and state substance abuse agencies seeking to address this are faced with new zoning restrictions or outright prohibition based on prejudice or unfounded fears.<br />
<br />
“We wish to let the public see our patients as the successes so many of them are,” Dr. Paris told AT Forum in an e-mail. “Our patients are dependent on their medication, not addicted,” he said. “They are not substituting methadone for their street drug. Instead, methadone helps to correct the illness induced by years of using heroin or abusing pain medications.”<br />
<br />
Stop Stigma Now attended the AATOD conference in Las Vegas, prominently passing out buttons and letting the addiction treatment field know about their work. “We were received warmly with a show of support by many of the leaders in the field,” said Dr. Paris. “We received many pledges for future financial support. That is very important if we are to be able to widen our anti-stigma message.”<br />
<br />
To find out more about Stop Stigma Now, and to make a donation, go to <a href="http://www.stopstigmanow.org/" target="_blank">Go to www.stopstigmanow.org</a><br />
<br />
Posted ATForum May 29, 2012 <br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/2012ATForum-Small_Organization_Raise_Funds_for_Methadone_PR_Campaign.pdf" target="_blank">Download</a><br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-54505097653263480922012-01-08T12:00:00.002-05:002016-07-04T15:15:04.883-04:00In My Own Words Essay Contest Winners<div align="left">
NAMA Recovery is proud to announce the 3 winners of the MAT In My Own Words Essay Contest.<br />
<br />
The winners were:<br />
<br />
1st Darlene DeMore (PA)<br />
2nd Louis Buchhold (CA)<br />
Ian Christenson (MN)<br />
<br />
The winners will receive: 1st-$500, 2nd-$250, 3rd-$100.<br />
<br />
We are proud to announce that a recordbreaking 128 individuals<br />
from across the US and the UK submitted essays.<br />
<br />
And even more proud that so many of you bravely shared your story.</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<br />
<strong>Here Are the Essays</strong> </div>
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<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>First Place<br />MEDICATED ASSISTED TREATMENT<br />A New Beginning<br />Darlene DeMore, Pennsylvania</strong> </div>
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<div align="left">
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Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT) has supported my recovery from addiction in ways I never expected. Early in recovery my only concern was not feeling sick and having a place to sleep other than the ground or a park bench. When I became pregnant, I was terrified that I would not be able to take care of my child. MAT allowed me to become well, function normally and raise a beautiful, healthy daughter.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
I am commonly asked why I have been on methadone maintenance for 14 years and my reply is because it works for me. Sadly MAT is misunderstood and stigmatized in our communities. What most people do not realize is that my medication is only a fraction of what my recovery is about. As with anyone in recovery, I needed therapy, family support, positive people and finding my passion in life. MAT is just that, assisted treatment. It’s a medication I take to treat my disease of addiction. Using drugs was only a symptom of other things I needed to learn how to cope with to be successful. </div>
<br />
<div align="left">
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I continue to be committed to recovery because when I allowed myself to be open to the process and accept my disease I was free. Free to be a loving mother of two, free to contribute to my community, free to share my recovery experiences and free to be a woman I am proud of, honored to be, and will continue to become.</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
# # #</div>
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<div align="left">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>Second Place<br />ATTC Essay<br />Louis Buchhold, California </strong></div>
<br />
<div align="left">
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I’ve been sober for 11 years/6 months. I could have never imagined I could experience even one day free from alcohol/drugs back then. In 8-long years I have never been able to get longer than 30-days sober, being in/out of AA, therapy, and having tried to kill myself. Then I met a psychistrist who saw past that homeless, unemployable, degenerate hope-to-die alcoholic – to a person gripped by a terrible disease with a medical solution.</div>
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<div align="left">
</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
At that time in 1999 Naltrexone was new. I had tried all the other clearly non-effective recovery methods, what harm could a trial be? MAT moved me for the first time to stop dissociating when triggered. I found myself being completely present, able to stop the addictive process. I got 60-days, after which, like an alcoholic/addict, my self-will tested this MAT by drinking/using. The medication worked. I stayed present and able to be recovery-committed since, knowing it is possible.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
I continued taking Naltrexone for 2-years. I went off when I had built enough behavioral tools and support to ensure my ongoing recovery. I continue to live each day only 24-hours at a time, knowing thay I can return to drinking and using tomorrow. If it wasn’t for MAT I would not be here to tell my story. I am grateful that there are medical options to help oeople struggling when all else has failed them.</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
# # #</div>
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<div align="left">
</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>Third Place<br />IN MY OWN WORDS…<br />Medication Assisted Treatment (Buprenorphine / Suboxone)<br />Ian Christenson, Minnesota</strong></div>
<br />
<div align="left">
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Suboxone saved my life. I’ve been clean and sober since that day 5 years ago when I walked into my doctor’s office beaten down by my addiction and finally asked for help.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
At 30 years of age, after 15 years of drug addiction I started Suboxone. I had been attending 12 step groups but after years of heroin and pill addiction, numerous drug treatments, and chronically relapsing I had to do something different. The decision was difficult. Suboxone is controversial and I feared the judgments of others in recovery.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
Medication-Assisted Treatment is a BIG part of my recovery but staying sober depends on more than just medication. I do service work, go to meetings, stay away from drugs/alcohol, and surround myself with supportive people.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
Medication-Assisted Treatment is the best decision I had made in a long time. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help from my doctors and the MAT program. </div>
<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
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<div align="left">
Suboxone has stopped my cravings and preoccupation with getting high. My life is no longer controlled by being high, lying, feeling miserable, then starting the cycle again.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
I’m 100 % committed to my recovery. Even though some days are still hard I know I can make it though the tough times. I now have a good job, a house, and a family. Besides all that, I now have something I never thought I could, sobriety and true happiness. I owe a lot of that to MAT.</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
# # #</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/documents/2011mat-recovery_essay.pdf" target="_blank">Download MAT Essay Book</a></div>
<br />
<div align="left">
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/NAMAPR2012_0108-In_My_Own_Words_Essay_Contest_Winners.pdf" target="_blank">Download Press Release</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-23624144108477632522011-12-29T16:00:00.005-05:002014-06-02T20:11:44.991-04:00Tennessee Proposes New Regulations Harmful to Patients, Quality Treatment and Best Practice
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Press Release</span></b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contact Persons</b>:<br />
</span><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Joycelyn Woods, Executive
Director, edirector@methadone.org<br />
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org<br />
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--></span><br />
<br />
<div align="left">
On December 19, 2011 the state of Tennessee is proposing new regulations for methadone. A hearing is scheduled for January 5, 2012 (State will accept written comments until January 19th).<br />
<br />
Here are some of the proposed regulations:<br />
<br />
<strong>The screening process: Patient must have two documented unsuccessful attempts at detoxification or drug-free treatment within a 24-hour period. (Page 14)<br /><br />Dose: Doses greater than 100 milligrams of methadone requires written notification to the SOTA, greater than 120 milligrams need SOTA approval prior to administration and greater than 140 milligrams shall include a peak and trough test. (Page 21)<br /><br />Take Home Medication: Patients on a monthly with 1 positive drug screen will be put on a weekly schedule for two weeks or more. (Page 24)<br />.<br />Administrative Discharge for Drug Use: A fourth positive drug test in 6 months will result in immediate discharge or ASW. (Page 26)<br /><br />Central Registry: A propsed Central Registry with no comment on how confidentiality will be maintained or even where it will be stored. (Page 29)</strong><br />
<br />
It must also be noted that many new proposals in the new regulation are good treatment, however they appear cumbersome resulting in excessive paper work so counselors do not have quality time to see patients. There must be a better way to do it such as the federal government whose regulations are very basic while the treatment requirements are in the accreditation guidelines. This also allows the federal the make changes when necessary without approval from Congress. Like the first federal regulations the Tennessee proposed regulations are written with good intent but the result is likely not to be what was intended.</div>
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<br />
<div align="center">
<br />
<strong>Tennessee Needs Our Help</strong></div>
<br />
Patients and residents of Tennessee that are family please follow the instructions in the attached Announcement. A copy of the legislators in the state Senate and Assembly is included. You should also send a copy to the Secretary of State and TN SOTA whose addresses are below.<br />
<br />
Out of State Patients the Hearings scheduled for January 5, 2012 needs to have patients write their feelings and why some of these regulations hamper recovery rather than support it. You can send a letter to the following:<br />
<br />
<br />
DO NOT SEND TO:<br />
<br />
Tre Hargett<br />
SECRETARY OF STATE<br />
State Capitol<br />
Nashville, TN 37243-1102<br />
Phone: (615) 741-2819<br />
<br />
MAIL LETTERS TO:<br />
<br />
Kurt Hippel, Esq.<br />
Tennessee Department of Mental Health<br />
Office of Licensure and Review<br />
4255th Ave. North, 3rd Floor<br />
Cordell Hill Building<br />
Nashville, TN 37243<br />
<br />
Jason Carter<br />
TN SOTA<br />
Cordell Hull Bldg. 5th Floor<br />
425 5th Ave. North<br />
Nashville, TN 37243<br />
Phone: (615) 532-6736<br />
Fax: (615) 741-6602<br />
jason.carter@state.tn.us<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/2011_1229%20TN%20Attention%20Patients%20PR.pdf">Download Announcement </a><br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/2011_1229TN%20Senate%20PR.pdf">Download TN Senate Members</a><br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/2011-11-08TN%20Proposed%20New%20Rules.pdf">Download TN Assembly Members<br />Download Proposed TN Regulations </a><br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/2011_1230PR%20Tennessee%20Proposes%20New%20Regulations.pdf">Download Press Release (PDF)</a><br />
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Revised: January 6, 2012<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19523671.post-67757402471299476162011-12-29T16:00:00.002-05:002014-06-02T20:12:28.688-04:00Governor LePage Believes Maine Should Stop Paying for Methadone Help Change His Mind<div align="left">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Press Release</span></b><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contact Persons</b>:<br />
</span><span style="color: #555544; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Joycelyn Woods, Executive
Director, edirector@methadone.org<br />
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org<br />
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<strong>He Says:</strong></div>
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Maine Care will pay for Methadone when most insurance carriers won't. Someone can go to the Discovery Center in Bangor. They can request an increase and receive it that day. They have no programs for decreasing or getting off methadone. They compare it to having Diabetes! On top of paying for methadone, they all get reimbursed for travel from PenCap! It is a legal drug dealer and we the tax payers are footing the bill! </div>
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<strong>We Have Heard It Before, Haven’t We?</strong></div>
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During December many advocates primarily professionals have written letters to the governor. However, as you can see from his comments he has not been convinced and is obviously cynical about the information he has received. Usually NAMA Recovery does something similar but instead our letter voices the concerns of patients on behalf of the patients being affected, or in this case methadone patients in Maine. Our letter notes the same evidence and research about methadone that the advocates that are professionals use. Our new project Stop Stigma Now even included a DVD with the letter. But NAMA Recovery can do something different and perhaps better because we can tell the governor how methadone has changed our lives. </div>
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<strong>What Can We Do?</strong></div>
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Instead of writing the usual letter we are asking patients to write a letter to the governor to tell him that methadone does work and that we are the proof!<br />
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And we can ask our professional friends to hand out this information to patients. Programs can help by telling patients.<br />
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<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/2011_1229Washington">See Attached Instructions</a><br />
<a href="http://www.methadone.org/downloads/namadocuments/2011_1229PR">Download Press Release (PDF)</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Together we can make a difference.
www.methadone.org</div>Joycelyn Woods, Executive Directorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621119125493510923noreply@blogger.com0