Drug Addiction and Treatment Act (S.324) (H.R.2634)

Congressman Bliley, who serves as the Chairman of the House Commerce Committee, introduced a bill (H.R.2634) to allow physicians to treat chronic opiate dependence in their private medical practice setting with Schedule IV and V Narcotics. Illustratively, Darvon is a Schedule IV Narcotic and Buprenorphine is a Schedule V Narcotic.

At the outset, it important to note that our Association supports the use of new and effective pharmacotherapies to treat chronic opiate dependence. We believe that physicians should be involved in treating opiate dependence in general medical practice settings, reversing such long-standing restrictions.

We do not question the efficacy of Buprenorphine in treating opiate dependence since our Medication’s Committee has reviewed literature, which has been developed through NIDA funded research in the United States and international journals as well.

Our Board of Directors convened in New York on September 23, 1999 and voted unanimously to restate these concerns and forward such policy documents to the appropriate federal agencies. The Board supports CSAT’s involvement in developing specific treatment protocols on how medications, such as Buprenorphine could be used by general practitioners in combination with other psychosocial services.

We continue to support physician involvement in prescribing such medications if they are certified in an appropriate medical subspecialty and/or receive specialized training in this area of medicine.

We continue to stress the need of assessing each patient, who receives such medication, to determine what kind of psychosocial services will be provided in conjunction with such medications.

The Association’s Medication’s Committee is aware that NIDA has funded 85% of the world’s research on drug addiction. These research findings have consistently demonstrated that improved patient outcome is more likely when medication has been used to treat chronic opiate dependence in conjunction with other psychosocial services.

An article by Doralie Segal, who works in the Medications Development Division of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, entitled “Buprenorphine: What Interests the National Institute on Drug Abuse?”, provided information about Buprenorphine. “NIDA is a very strong advocate of combining treatment modalities. Pharmacological treatment addresses only one of the problems associated with drug dependence and when it is employed alone, relapse rates are very high. In fact, NIDA mandates that its clinical trials of new potential medications combine behavioral and psychosocial treatment and rehabilitative interventions in the research design.”

NIDA released a new publication “Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment – A Research Based Guide”, which underscores Ms. Segal’s perspective. Our Association supports such principles of drug addiction treatment and our policies have indicated that if doctors are to be involved in treating chronic opiate dependence and decide to use medications such as Buprenorphine in treating this disease, then such psychosocial or behavioral services should be provided at the medical practice setting or through referral.

Our Association supports ONDCP’s strategy in closing the treatment gap, which was promulgated in the March 1999 Policy Paper on Opioid Agonist Treatment. Thousands of untreated opiate dependent people need increased access to care through expanded substance abuse treatment programs and a new network of general medical practice settings.

We also need to ensure that patients will be treated safely and by knowledgeable practitioners. We believe that it would be dangerous to conveniently forget the hard-learned experiences of clinical practice and research in attempting to close this gap without implementing reasonable protections. Such protections are aimed at protecting the public’s health as opposed to moving quickly without an informed strategic plan.

Visit the aatod conference website for more details…www.aatodconference.com.

@aatod1984
  • 💻 Our Association presented a complimentary webinar on the utilization of medications in correctional settings.

#ICYMI, please use this link to view full recording 
⬇️ 
bit.ly/4embfwf
  • 💻 Our Association will present a complimentary webinar on the utilization of medications in correctional settings on September 11, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EST.

Mark Parrino, AATOD President, will serve as the host along with presenter, Linda Hurley of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare. Ms. Hurley will provide guidance to OTPs on how to work with correctional facilities on how to provide access to #MAT for #OUD.

REGISTER ➡️ bit.ly/3XjZPlV
  • International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) – held on August 31 every year – is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.

The theme for 2024 is “Together we can”, highlighting the power of our community when we all stand together.
#IOAD2024 #TogetherWeCan #EndOverdose

Please view video message from AATOD's President, Mark Parrino ➡️bit.ly/3XpKyRz
  • Welcome to the #aatod2024 Conference
  • Welcome to Las Vegas. We invite you to attend this evening’s AATOD Board meeting ➡️ bit.ly/4apbmVt #aatod2024
  • Join us for the highly acclaimed 8-hour clinician’s course which convenes on Sunday, May 19, 2024 ➡️ bit.ly/3UOKtVi
#aatod2024
  • 📰 AATOD Unites Global Leaders in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment for Pivotal Las Vegas Summit 
➡️https://prn.to/3wEvR2G #OUD #somuchmorethanmedication #aatod2024
  • 💻 Welcome Message from Dr. Dinita Smith, Psy.D, MSW - #aatod2024 Conference Chair 

Thank you to our generous Conference Sponsors, Hosts, Exhibitors, Keynote Speakers, Presenters, Volunteers, and the entire Conference Planning Committee.

Online registration is still available. We look forward to welcoming you to Las Vegas!
  • Post & Hashtag 📸 
We would love to hear about your #aatod2024 conference experience on social media.
  • Conference Program Spotlight - Exhibits
The #aatod2024 Conference will attract over 1,600 physicians, social workers, nurses, counselors, program administrators, executive directors, and other treatment providers from many countries. Visit the AATOD Exhibit Hall for networking opportunities, to learn about new products & services and for guidance on how to improve patient treatment ➡️ bit.ly/3yi8T1M.
💻 Our Association presented a complimentary webinar on the utilization of medications in correctional settings. #ICYMI, please use this link to view full recording ⬇️ bit.ly/4embfwf
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/10
💻 Our Association will present a complimentary webinar on the utilization of medications in correctional settings on September 11, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EST.

Mark Parrino, AATOD President, will serve as the host along with presenter, Linda Hurley of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare. Ms. Hurley will provide guidance to OTPs on how to work with correctional facilities on how to provide access to #MAT for #OUD.

REGISTER ➡️ bit.ly/3XjZPlV
💻 Our Association will present a complimentary webinar on the utilization of medications in correctional settings on September 11, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EST. Mark Parrino, AATOD President, will serve as the host along with presenter, Linda Hurley of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare. Ms. Hurley will provide guidance to OTPs on how to work with correctional facilities on how to provide access to #MAT for #OUD. REGISTER ➡️ bit.ly/3XjZPlV
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
2/10
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) – held on August 31 every year – is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind. The theme for 2024 is “Together we can”, highlighting the power of our community when we all stand together. #IOAD2024 #TogetherWeCan #EndOverdose Please view video message from AATOD's President, Mark Parrino ➡️bit.ly/3XpKyRz
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
3/10
Welcome to the #aatod2024 Conference
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/10
Welcome to Las Vegas. We invite you to attend this evening’s AATOD Board meeting ➡️ bit.ly/4apbmVt #aatod2024
Welcome to Las Vegas. We invite you to attend this evening’s AATOD Board meeting ➡️ bit.ly/4apbmVt #aatod2024
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/10
Join us for the highly acclaimed 8-hour clinician’s course which convenes on Sunday, May 19, 2024 ➡️ bit.ly/3UOKtVi
#aatod2024
Join us for the highly acclaimed 8-hour clinician’s course which convenes on Sunday, May 19, 2024 ➡️ bit.ly/3UOKtVi #aatod2024
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/10
📰 AATOD Unites Global Leaders in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment for Pivotal Las Vegas Summit 
➡️https://prn.to/3wEvR2G #OUD #somuchmorethanmedication #aatod2024
📰 AATOD Unites Global Leaders in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment for Pivotal Las Vegas Summit ➡️https://prn.to/3wEvR2G #OUD #somuchmorethanmedication #aatod2024
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/10
💻 Welcome Message from Dr. Dinita Smith, Psy.D, MSW - #aatod2024 Conference Chair Thank you to our generous Conference Sponsors, Hosts, Exhibitors, Keynote Speakers, Presenters, Volunteers, and the entire Conference Planning Committee. Online registration is still available. We look forward to welcoming you to Las Vegas!
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/10
Post & Hashtag 📸 
We would love to hear about your #aatod2024 conference experience on social media.
Post & Hashtag 📸 We would love to hear about your #aatod2024 conference experience on social media.
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/10
Conference Program Spotlight - Exhibits
The #aatod2024 Conference will attract over 1,600 physicians, social workers, nurses, counselors, program administrators, executive directors, and other treatment providers from many countries. Visit the AATOD Exhibit Hall for networking opportunities, to learn about new products & services and for guidance on how to improve patient treatment ➡️ bit.ly/3yi8T1M.
Conference Program Spotlight - Exhibits The #aatod2024 Conference will attract over 1,600 physicians, social workers, nurses, counselors, program administrators, executive directors, and other treatment providers from many countries. Visit the AATOD Exhibit Hall for networking opportunities, to learn about new products & services and for guidance on how to improve patient treatment ➡️ bit.ly/3yi8T1M.
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
10/10

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