Citizens in Support of an Opioid Treatment Program ("methadone clinic") in upper Eastern Tennessee

  • by: NAMA Recovery of Tennessee
  • recipient: Tennessee State Health Services and Development Agency (HSDA), City of Johnson City TN, Washington County TN

As the opioid addiction and overdose death rate rages on, and Eastern Tennessee specifically is leading the nation in overdose deaths, it is critically important that the public shows their support for evidence based, proven effective medical treatments that have been shown time and time again to reduce overdose death rates, help individuals regain status as productive members of society, lower HIV/Hepatitis C rates, decrease the amount of drug-related crime, and many other benefits.... The State of Tennessee, through its Certificate of Need process, has a history of blocking new Opioid Treatment Programs that would offer methadone maintenance treatment --- a treatment the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has deemed the "gold standard treatment" and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described as the "most effective treatment" for opioid addiction --- from opening in the state. Enough is enough! Lives are at stake. Please join with us in supporting the newly proposed opioid treatmet program(s) in Johnson City, Tennessee. Tell the state: Stop blocking access to the most effective medical treatment for opioid addiction through your Certificate of Need process, and Tell Johnson City: Stop blocking access to the gold standard treatment for opioid addiction and discriminating against opioid addicts by using your Zoning Ordinances to prevent new programs from opening! 

Click "Petition" right above this (next to "Overview") to read the Text of the actual Petition that will be delivered.

Eastern Tennessee probably has more untreated opioid addicts per acre than anywhere else in the nation. Tennessee has the 13th highest opioid overdose deaths per capita, compared to all other states, and is ranked number two in the kilogram of opioids prescribed per capita (source).

We, the undersigned Tennessee, United States and/or world citizens, support the approval and opening of an opioid treatment program in the upper Eastern Tennessee Tri Cities area forthwith because the maintenane treatment of opioid addiction with methadone has been proven to result in...

• Reduction in the use of illicit drugs
• Reduction in criminal activity
• Reduction in needle sharing
• Reduction in HIV infection rates and transmission
• Cost-effectiveness
• Reduction in commercial sex work
• Reduction in the number of reports of multiple sex partners
• Improvements in social health and productivity
• Improvements in health conditions
• Retention in addiction treatment
• Reduction in suicide
• Reduction in lethal overdose


(SOURCE: http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/partb.pdf)

We strongly encourage Tennessee state, Washington County & Johnson City officials to act on this chance to save lives and put aside personal biases and look at the science supporting medication assisted treatments. It's the right thing to do.

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