Nominations Open for the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery

Press Release
 
Contacts Persons: 
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, edirector@methadone.org
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org
Phone/Fax: 1.212.595.NAMA  (1-212-595-6262)

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.   

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.   

The following criteria should be applied in making your selection:             

·        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.             

·        The nominee must have been involved in the field of methadone advocacy for a period of five (5) years.

 

·        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. 

·        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            http://www.methadone.org.   

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. 

The deadline for Submissions is September 12, 2014.  The completed Nomination Form along with at least two (2) Letters of Support should be sent to Joycelyn Woods at  edirector@methadone.org.                                          

Previous Winners of the Award

 

1995, Arizona                   Richard Lane                                

2001, St. Louis                 Joycelyn Woods                                
2007, San Diego               Anthony Scro                                
2009, New York               Walter Ginter                                
2010, Chicago                   Lisa Mojer Torres                                
2012, Las Vegas               Roxanne Baker   
2013, Philadelphia            Ira Marion

This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the Awards Banquet Ceremony  on March 31, 2015 during AATOD’s next National Conference which will convene  at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.   

The recipient will be provided with the following: a roundtrip Coach Class airfare, up to  two (2) nights in the hotel and Conference Registation.   

Deadline:           September 12, 2014

Email Nominations To:       
Joycelyn Woods    edirector@methadone.org

For questions about the award contact Joycelyn Woods at edirector@methadone.org or by telephone at 718-742-7804           

Download Nomination Forms

Download Suggestions for Persons Nominating 

Download Press Release

 

 

Tell SAMHSA Not To Violate Your Civil Right to Confidentiality

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery

Press Release
 

Contact Persons: 

Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, edirector@methadone.org

Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org
Phone/Fax: 212.595.NAMA  (212-595-62620)

Most hospitals and medical centers now have in operation what is called electronic health records or Health Information Technology (HIT).  Basically this means that doctors in their private offices, medical centers, pharmacies and state prescription monitoring programs all have access to your health records.   Records in methadone programs are excluded because of the Confidentiality Regulations (42 CFR Part 2).  For any information to leave the program a patient must sign a release that requires the request to be exact.

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.

IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?

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?  Do you want the right to protect your treatment from insurance companies, employers, criminal justice systems – actually everyone?

Professionals and Policy Makers do not understand the stigma and prejudice that especially methadone patients experience in their daily lives.  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.  This is what they need to hear.  Your experiences when you try to get medical care outside of the program and how you feel that Confidentiality is Your Civil Right..

For information about 42 CFR Part 2 go to:                     http://www.methadone.org

                                                                                    http://www.samhsa.gov/healthprivacy

 

Send Comments to: PrivacyRegulations@SAMHSA.hhs.gov

Mail Comments to: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857, Room 5-1011.

Send By:  June 25, 2014 (if you mail after they should still accept it)

 

Downloads

 

Read how the special confidentiality regulations came about The Case of People vs Newman. 

 

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.

 

Newman, Robert G. In:The Case of People vs Newman. (Chapter 6) Methadone Treatment in Narcotic Addiction: Program Management, Findings, and Prospects for the Future. New York: Academic Press; 1977: pp. 62.

 

 

Press Release Tell SAMHSA Not To Violate Your Civil Right Confidentiality.

TIPS

What to Write to SAMHSA

1. Don't write a long letter. A simple paragraph to say that it is important that the confidentiality remain as they currently are.

 

2. You can tell them about an incident or situation like what usually happens when a doctor finds out you are a methadone patient.

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.

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."

Example

Dear SAMHSA:

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.

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.

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.

Please don't change the confidentiality regulations that has protected me and all patients from the discrimination against us.

Thank you.
 

 A Patient*

*  I am afraid to sign my name because of the discrimination against methadone patients.

 

What is important is that you write.

 

Notice of SAMHSA Listening Session Confidentiality Regulations 42 CFR part 2

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery
 
Press Release

Contact Persons:
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, edirector@methadone.org
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA

SAMHSA the federal agency in charge of methadone treatment is scheduling a Listening Session.  They want to hear from professionals and especially patients about Confidentiality and your treatment.

Most hospitals and medical centers now have in operation what is called electronic health records or Health Information Technology (HIT).  Basically this means that doctors in their private offices and medical centers all have access to your health records.   Records in methadone programs are excluded because of the Confidentiality Regulations (42 CFR part 2).  For any information to leave the program a patient must sign a release.

However if methadone programs were connected to the health information system then any medical professional would have access to your drug treatment information.

IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?

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.

Professionals and Policy Makers do not understand the stigma and prejudice that especially methadone patients experience when trying to access health care.  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.  This is what they need to hear.  Your experiences when you try to get medical care outside of the program and you tell them you are a methadone patient.  The session is open to the public and you can join it on the internet.

   Date:                         June 11, 2014

   Time:                         9:30am – 4:30 pm

For information about 42 CFR part 2 and the Listening Session go to:

http://www.samhsa.gov/healthprivacy

To Register – go to: http://42cfrpart2-listeningsession.eventbrite.com

Send Comments to: PrivacyRegulations@SAMHSA.hhs.gov  

 

Read the story of how the confidentiality regulations came about.

From Dr. Robert Newman's book about the New York City program and how the confidentiality regulations were created and put into effect.

 

From Newman, Robert G. In: Chapter 6. Methadone Treatment in Narcotic Addiction: Program Management, Findings, and Prospects for the Future. New York: Academic Press; 1977: pp. 62.

Download:  1977 Confidentiality - The Case of People vs Newman

 

Download: Federal Register Confidentiality Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records (5-12-14)

 

Download: Press Release (pdf)

 

 

Download the SAMHSA Disaster App

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery

Press Release

Contact Persons:
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, edirector@methadone.org
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA

Your SAMHSA Disaster App
Is Ready To Download!

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.

• Be focused. Spend less time worrying about logistics so you can focus on what really matters—the people in need.
• Be prepared. Rely on and access predownloaded resources on your phone in case of limited Internet connectivity.
• Be confident. Review key preparedness materials so you're confident about providing the best support possible.
• Share resources easily. Send information to colleagues and survivors via text message or email, or transfer the information to a computer for printing.

Download the SAMHSA Disaster App and give it a test run. Help SAMHSA improve future versions by sending feedback.

 

Download Press Release