Methadone Clinics, And Medical Mj

[slipstar059]

I have a friend (seriously not me) who goes to a methadone clinic, and has a travelling hardship.  He drives two hours to Grand Rapids 3 days a week to take Methadone at one of the only 2 clinics in GR.  Right now they won't give him the day's off they would have given anyone else in his same situation (travel hardship), and they're giving him the run-around, about getting his take out days. His counsellor is telling him they won't give them the days because the doctor that gave him his rec is a foreigner, and not a primary care physician.  The doctor lives in Michigan, and he had a in-person physical and check-up, when he got his rec, he just happens to be Indian.  The state approved the rec, and he's got his hardcard now, but the clinic won't talk to him about his take-out days.  He's had a card for the past year, and they wouldn't approve his last doctor, either.  They made the comment that a real doctor wouldn't answer his own phone, (they called him to confirm that he told the doctor about his methadone prescription,) but then they just made up a reason to not approve him.  He's spending a ton of money in gas, and he'll spend a lot more (plus his 2 hour drive is nothing to laugh at either).  If anyone knows of any lawyers interested in a discrimination lawsuit, than this is a perfect case.

 

Below is a link to Michigans policy on methadone treatment.  Medical MJ is mentioned as well as the fact that they're not allowed to discriminated.  I'd really like to help him out, so again, if anyone knows a lawyer.  Please contact me here and I can pass on the info.

 

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/Tx_Policy_5-_Methadone_363511_7.pdf

 

TREATMENT POLICY #05

EFFECTIVE: October 1, 2012

Page 5 of 11

prescribed medication, including controlled substances

, must not be consider

ed as illicit substances

when the OTP has documentation that it was pres

cribed for the individual. Copies of the

prescription label, pharmacy receipt, pharmacy pr

int out, or a Michigan Automated Prescription

System (MAPS) report must be included in the indi

vidual’s chart or kept in

a “prescribed medication

log” that must be easily accessible for review.

Michigan law allows for individuals with the

appropriate physician approval and documentation to

use medical marijuana. Although there are no pr

escribers of medical marijuana in Michigan,

individuals are authorized by a physician to us

e marijuana per Michigan law. For enrolled

individuals, there must be a copy of the MDCH regi

stration card for medical marijuana issued in the

individual’s name in the chart or the “prescribed

medication log.” Following these steps will help to

ensure that an individual who is using medical marijuana per Michigan law will not be discriminated

against in regards to program admission and exceptions for dosing.

If an individual is unwilling to provide prescription or medical marijuana information, the OTP must

include a statement to this effect, signed by the indi

vidual, in the chart. These individuals will not

be eligible for off-site dosing, including Sunday and holiday doses. OTPs must advise individuals to

include methadone when providing a list of medica

tions to their healthcare providers. The OTP

physician may elect not to admit the individual for

methadone treatment if the coordination of care

with health care providers and/or prescribing physicians is not agreed to by the client.

Off-site dosing, including Sundays and holidays, is

not allowed without coordination of care (or

documentation of efforts made by

the OTP for coordination) by the OTP physician, the prescriber of

the identified controlled substance (opioids, benz

odiazepines, muscle relaxants), and the physician

who approved the use of

medical marijuana. This coordination must be documented in either the

nurse’s or the doctor’s notes.

The documentation must be individualized, identifying the individual,

the diagnosis, and the length of time the individual

is expected to be on the medication. A MAPS

report must be completed at admission. A MAPS re

port should be completed before off-site doses,

including Sundays and holidays, are

allowed and must be completed when coordination of care with

other physicians could not be accomplished.

If respiratory depressants are prescribed for a

ny medical condition, includi

ng a dental or podiatry

condition, the prescribing practitioners should be enc

ouraged to prescribe a medication which is the

least likely to cause danger to the individual when

used with methadone. Individuals who have

coordinated care with prescribing practitioners, a

nd are receiving medical care or mental health

services, will be allowed dosing off site, if all other

criteria are met. If the OTP is closed for dosing

on Sundays or holidays, arrangements shall be made

to dose the individual at another OTP if the

individual is not deemed responsible for off-site dosing.

 

[chrismeiss45]

Therapeutic use of marijuana is an important part of methadone maintenance and addiction recovery. Scientific inquiry and rational thinking are overpowering drug war hysteria.

[t-pain]

They made the comment that a real doctor wouldn't answer his own phone, (they called him to confirm that he told the doctor about his methadone prescription,) but then they just made up a reason to not approve him.

so they called the dr. the dr himself answered, and the said that nasty comment? yikes.

 

did your buddy try the other clinic in gr (you mentioned 2 clinics) ? maybe nicer people. good luck to him/her.

 

is his dr in the detroit metro area? sounds like a great doctor to have, answers his own phone?!?? i'd kill for a dr like that! seriously, i would like to know if hes accepting patients, i dont need methadone, just looking for a better primary care dr.

Edited August 29, 2014 by t-pain