Addiction Treatment Programs in Philadelphia Expand

PHILADELPHIA - April 2, 2018 - PRLog -- Healthcare providers and officials in the city of Philadelphia have been trying to innovate and expand addiction treatment programs services in the area.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health recently revealed that the city had more drug overdoses than all other major U.S. cities last year — when more than 1,200 fatal overdoses were reported.

So far, initiatives implemented by the city have managed been allowing most residents not to have to be included in waiting lists before being admitted into a detox program.

Furthermore, the governor recently said he will be "ending policies that delay access to treatment" for those with opioid use disorders.

The city of Philadelphia also has boosted the number of healthcare providers who can prescribe substitution therapies.

While Philadelphia does not have an official waiting list, treatment providers still can have admission requirements for new patients and some physicians refuse to take in new patients altogether.

Admission requirements are among the many obstacles preventing the people who need addiction treatment from accessing services.

According to treatment specialists, there are two main routes to accessing city-funded addiction treatment services in Philadelphia — emergency rooms or the criminal justice system.

Select local jails now include addiction treatment programs with opioid substitution therapies and a growing number of emergency rooms have doctors who are able to provide these therapies to patients.

Philadelphia officials have also announced they will support the implementation of local safe injection sites with medical supervision for intravenous drug users.

https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2018/03/12/drug-addictio...