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Description
Methadone saves lives. A large systematic review published in 2017 showed unequivocally that methadone reduces mortality among people with opioid use disorders. In the context of an opioid overdose epidemic, all efforts should be made to expand the availability of methadone treatment services to individuals who may benefit from it.
But in our efforts to expand methadone’s availability, we should not lose sight of the importance of quality.
In 2010, Bill White published a landmark monograph entitled “Recovery-Oriented Methadone Maintenance.” In it, he laid out strategies for combining pharmacotherapy with professional and peer support to lead to sustained long-term recovery. This webinar shows how to make recovery-oriented methadone a reality. IRETA Executive Director Peter Luongo summarizes the principles of recovery-oriented methadone maintenance and describe an ongoing quality improvement project in several western Pennsylvania methadone programs designed to improve long-term patient outcomes.
Presenter
Peter Luongo, PhD, worked in the behavioral health field for over thirty years as a social worker and administrator before joining IRETA in 2011.
From working as a clinician to serving as the state director of Maryland, conducting home visits to family crisis intervention with the police, Peter has seen just about everything the world of behavioral health has to offer. With a wealth of perspective, skills and competencies at his disposal, Peter is in a unique position to help organizations provide competent, timely and appropriate care to people in need.
He received his B.A. and M.A. in Psychology from The Catholic University of America and his Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Maryland. Peter has served as a faculty associate at Johns Hopkins University where he received the Johns Hopkins University Excellence in Teaching Award in 1996. In 2008, he received the Maryland Social Worker of the Year award from the National Association of Social Workers and in 2012, he was selected as one of “50 Heroes for Justice” by The University of Maryland School of Social Work. In 2015, he was elected a Class A Trustee of the General Services Board of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Additional Resources
IRETA blog post: Migrating to Recovery-Oriented Methadone Maintenance