For how long can a practitioner administer methadone to a patient awaiting a treatment program?

When considering the administration of methadone for patients awaiting entry into a treatment program, federal guidelines allow practitioners to provide methadone for a short-term basis as an interim measure. The specific time frame for which a practitioner can administer methadone in this context is limited to a maximum of three days. This allowance is designed to ensure that patients have access to treatment while they transition into a more formalized opioid treatment program.

This regulation is in place because methadone is a controlled substance and is often used in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. By limiting the duration to three days, it serves as a safeguard to avoid reliance on methadone without proper oversight and to encourage patients to enter appropriate treatment programs.

Other durations, such as one day, seven days, or fourteen days, exceed the regulations set forth by the federal government for this specific and temporary use of methadone, reinforcing why the three-day limit is significant in ensuring appropriate care while managing substance use treatment effectively.