The COMPA Bulletin
Volume II, Issue 3 April 6, 2002
Contents:
COMPA Membership Elects New Board Members
In accordance with revised by-laws adopted by COMPA in November 2000, the Board of Directors is comprised of 11 members elected for staggered terms of three years each. In order to comply with this provision, the Board members elected for terms beginning in January, 2001 opted to serve for a one, two or three year terms. The terms of three members therefore expired at the beginning of 2002 and elections were held recently for these seats and one existing vacancy (2 year term).
As a result of the election, we are pleased to welcome to the COMPA Board: Addie Corradi, Administrative Director of the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program of Beth Israel Hospital, New York; Otto C. Feliu, Director of Chemical Dependency at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse; Lolita Silva-Vazquez, Program Director of the Greenwich House MTP in New York; and Derrick Spencer, Executive Director of Concourse Medical Center, New York (2 year term).
We must also express our deepest thanks and appreciation to Richard Woytek of Long Island Jewish MMTP who has served for many years as a COMPA Board member and Treasurer; Ira Wolfe of St. Luke’s Hospital in the Hudson Valley who has also served as a Board member for many years; and Sheila Tierney of Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, who only served on the COMPA Board during the past year but has long been a strong friend, advocate and supporter.
Expert Panel Issues Revised Guidelines for LAAM
The following clinical guidelines for the prudent use of LAAM were recommended by an independent Expert Panel sponsored by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). Separate, but similar, guidelines are provided for A) patients who are already on LAAM and wish to continue the medication, and B) patients who are being newly considered for LAAM therapy.
The focus here is on minimizing the potential for cardiac electrical conduction disturbances being caused by LAAM in patients attending opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programs regulated by CSAT.
A. Patients Already on LAAM:
1) Twelve-lead ECGs are to be performed on all patients. All ECGs should be reviewed by a physician with expertise in reading ECGs. Follow-up ECGs can be performed every 12-18 months thereafter unless indicated sooner for clinically suspicious events, increases in dosage, or new medications.
2) LAAM should not be continued in patients with confirmed QTc prolongation greater than 480 msec (milliseconds) without timely cardiologic consultation.
Bazett's correction is used to calculate QTc (QTc msec = QT msec / square root of RR in seconds).
Heart rate must be between 50 and 75 bpm for accurate interpretation. BPM <50 will result in artifactual shortening of QTc; BPM >75 will result in artifactually prolonged QTc.
If a patient's heart rate is high, some minutes of rest and relaxation may be used to reduce it. Or, consultation with an experienced electrocardiographer might be recommended in patients falling outside the range.
3) All patients are to have medical histories updated with emphasis on a family history (of long QT syndrome, cardiac conduction defects, arrhythmias, syncopal attacks, seizures, and sudden or unexpected death) and personal history (of long QT syndrome, cardiac conduction defects, arrhythmias, syncopal attacks, seizures, palpitations, dizziness, and light-headedness).
4) Update drug/medication history:
a) List all concomitant pharmacologic agents, including prescribed medications, OTC agents, herbal preparations, dietary supplements, illicit substances and alcohol. Results of laboratory tests, including urine toxicology screens, should be taken into consideration when compiling this list, especially for cocaine and amphetamines (which increase risk).
b) Patients should be advised to inform the program physician of any additional medications being prescribed, prior to starting them (and to inform any prescribing physician that they are already taking a medication that prolongs the QT interval).
c) Of special importance are drugs/medications that may affect cardiac function or metabolically interact with LAAM.
Medications can be checked against those previously reported to prolong QT at www.torsades.org.
LAAM is metabolized to active metabolites by the cytochrome P450 isoform, CYP3A4. Therefore, the addition of drugs that induce this enzyme (such as rifampin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, ritonavir, and St. John's Wort) or inhibit this enzyme (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, amiodarone, cimetidine, saquinavir, and grapefruit juice) could increase the levels of parent drug or its active metabolites in a patient that had previously been at steady-state, and this could potentially precipitate serious arrhythmias, including torsade de pointes.
Caution should be used when prescribing concomitant drugs known to induce hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia as they may precipitate QT prolongation and interact with LAAM. These would include diuretics, laxatives, and supraphysiological use of steroid hormones with mineralocorticoid potential, as well as alcohol intake at a level to cause significant fluid and electrolyte disturbance.
5) The program physician should document the risks/benefits of continuing LAAM therapy in the patient record, following a discussion of such risks and benefits with the patient. Patients with higher risk profiles may be managed more safely without the use of LAAM.
B. New LAAM Patients:
1) A pretreatment 12-lead ECG is to be performed and then follow-up ECGs. At least one follow-up ECG should be obtained between twelve days and four weeks after starting treatment and when steady-state dosing has been attained. Follow-up ECGs can be performed every 12-18 months thereafter unless indicated sooner for clinically suspicious events, increases in dosage, or new medications.
2) Per product labeling, LAAM should not be started in patients with a QTc interval greater than 430 msec [male] or 450 msec [female]; or in patients having conditions which may lead to QT prolongation such as:
a) clinically significant bradycardia ( <50 bpm),
b) clinically significant cardiac disease,
c) treatment with Class IA or Class III anti-arrhythmics,
d) treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs),
e) concomitant treatment with other drugs known to prolong the QT interval, and
f) electrolyte imbalance, in particular hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia.
3) All potential LAAM patients are to have medical histories updated with emphasis on a family history (of long QT syndrome, cardiac conduction defects, arrhythmias, syncopal attacks, seizures, and sudden or unexpected death); and personal history (of long QT syndrome, cardiac conduction defects, arrhythmias, syncopal attacks, seizures, palpitations, dizziness, and light-headedness).
4) Update drug/medication history:
a) List all concomitant pharmacologic agents, including prescribed medications, OTC agents, herbal preparations, dietary supplements, illicit substances and alcohol. Results of laboratory tests, including urine toxicology screens, should be taken into consideration when compiling this list, especially for cocaine and amphetamines (which increase risk).
b) Patients should be advised to inform the program physician of any additional medications being prescribed, prior to starting them (and to inform any prescribing physician that they are already taking a medication that prolongs the QT interval).
c) Of special importance are drugs/medications that may affect cardiac function or metabolically interact with LAAM.
Medications can be checked against those previously reported to prolong QT at www.torsades.org.
LAAM is metabolized to active metabolites by the cytochrome P450 isoform, CYP3A4. Therefore, the addition of drugs that induce this enzyme (such as rifampin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, ritonavir, and St. John's Wort) or inhibit this enzyme (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, amiodarone, cimetidine, saquinavir, and grapefruit juice) could increase the levels of parent drug or its active metabolites in a patient that had previously been at steady-state, and this could potentially precipitate serious arrhythmias, including torsade de pointes.
Caution should be used when prescribing concomitant drugs known to induce hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia as they may precipitate QT prolongation and interact with LAAM. These would include diuretics, laxatives, and supraphysiological use of steroid hormones with mineralocorticoid potential , as well as alcohol intake at a level to cause significant fluid and electrolyte disturbance.
5) The program physician should document the risks/benefits of beginning LAAM therapy in the patient record, following a discussion of such risks and benefits with the patient. Patients with higher risk profiles may be managed more safely without the use of LAAM. Concern with the QTc phenomenon should not necessarily deter the use of LAAM by fully informed and carefully screened patients who would prefer LAAM and would benefit from its use.
Drugs That Prolong the QT Interval and/or Induce Torsade de Pointes
The charts beginning on the following page (updated 10/23/01) are adapted from a list maintained and frequently updated by the Department of Pharmacology at Georgetown University Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERT) and is available at <www.Torsades.org> or <www.QTdrugs.org>. This site contains information from FDA-approved drug labeling and cases reported in the literature, and also includes a list of drugs to avoid in patients with congenital long QT syndrome. Check the Web site for the latest listings and updates.
Note: Charts of this type can serve as a reference guide only; professional judgment and consultation with other appropriate sources is recommended prior to making clinical decisions in specific situations. Also, due to rapidly expanding knowledge in this area, one should recognize that any such list may require frequent updating.
QT = Prolongation is mentioned in the FDA-approved labeling as a known action of the drug.
TdP = The FDA-approved labeling includes mention of cases or a risk of Torsade de Pointes (TdP).
Cases in Lit = There are case reports of TdP in the medical literature.
Females>Males = Substantial evidence indicates greater risk (usually two-fold) of TdP in women.
+ = Additional brands are on the market.
NOTES:
Quinine may also be of concern, as cases of conduction abnormalities and arrhythmia due to cardiotoxicity of this drug, as a diluent in combination with heroin and other illicit drugs, have been reported. In patients with QT interval prolongation and a positive urine screen for quinine, a repeat ECG subsequent to eliminating illicit drug use may be advised to determine if the QT interval reverts to normal range (personal communication, Barry Stimmel, MD, October 30, 2001).
Caution should be exercised when prescribing concomitant drugs known to induce hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia as they may precipitate QT prolongation and interact with ORLAAM and/or drugs listed in the above table. These would include diuretics, laxatives, and supraphysiological use of steroid hormones with mineralocorticoid potential, as well as alcohol intake at a level to cause significant fluid and electrolyte disturbance (personal communication, Gregory Hicks, PharmD, Roxanne Laboratories, Inc., October 28, 2001; also in ORLAAM PI, 2001).
Drugs to Avoid in Patients with Congenital Long QT Syndrome
The following charts (updated 10/23/01) are adapted from a list maintained and frequently updated by the Department of Pharmacology at Georgetown University Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERT) and is available at <www.Torsades.org> or <www.QTdrugs.org>.
Drugs listed are potential triggers for torsade de pointes or ventricular fibrillation in the presence of a long QT interval. People who have a prolonged QT interval, due either to congenital long QT syndrome or due to a QT-prolonging effect of medications or certain heart muscle diseases, are generally advised to avoid use of these medications if possible. Additionally, patients with a long QT interval should avoid drugs that prolong the QT interval as listed at www.torsades.org.
Welfare Reform Reauthorization
From the Washington Roundup, Legal Action Center, March 1, 2002
President Bush announced his proposal for reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) this week. Created in 1996, TANF is the welfare block grant to States that imposes a five-year lifetime limit on benefits, work requirements for welfare recipients, and sanctions for those who do not comply, including a loss of benefits.
The President’s plan explicitly recognizes that addiction can be a barrier to employment and that welfare recipients with alcohol and drug problems need treatment to succeed. Under the Administration’s reauthorization proposal, up to three consecutive months of treatment (in any 24 months of receipt of TANF) would count as work for recipients. In addition, States would be able to count individuals in treatment toward their required work participation rates, which they cannot do directly under current law.
The President’s proposal would also:
While a few different TANF reauthorization bills have been introduced, Congress has not taken any action on this issue. Committee hearings on reauthorization could begin as early as this month.
House Committee Holds Hearing on National Drug Control Strategy
In early March the House Committee on Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources held a hearing on the recently released National Drug Control Strategy. John Walters, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), was the sole witness at the hearing, appearing to answer questions about the Strategy and the President’s FY 2003 budget request. Congressman John Mica (R-FL) chaired the hearing on behalf of Chairman Mark Souder (R-IN) who was unable to attend. Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) also attended the hearing. No other members of the Subcommittee were present.
During his testimony, Director Walters described the goals and principles of the National Drug Control Strategy, including the Strategy’s goals of reducing current use of illegal drugs by 10% in the next two years and by 25% in the next five years, and its first two principles of: 1) Stopping drug use before it starts: education and community action, and 2) Healing America’s drug users: getting treatment resources where they are needed. Director Walters also described how the President’s FY 2003 budget request supports these goals and principles by providing increased funding for prevention and treatment programs, including a $9 million increase for the Drug Free Communities Support Program, a $2 million increase for Drug Courts, a $60 million increase for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and a $109 million increase for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s Targeted Capacity Expansion Program. In addition to these budget increases, Director Walters described the steps that the Office of National Drug Control Policy is taking to improve the management of the drug control budget as a way to increase competition for resources and invest in programs that work.
In their opening remarks, Congressmen Mica and Cummings expressed support for Director Walters’ leadership and the Drug Control Strategy. Congressman Mica, however, expressed concern that many drug treatment programs have poor track records and urged the Office of National Drug Control Policy to create criteria for evaluating the relative success of treatment programs so that programs that are not working would no longer receive government support. Director Walters explained that ONDCP is working the Department of Health and Human Services and the States to improve the delivery of resources and the evaluation of services. However, Director Walters also stated that data collection and performance measurement initiatives are still under development and would be for at least the next year. Congressman Cummings delivered remarks in support of the effectiveness of drug and alcohol treatment services, citing a recent study of Baltimore programs, and urged the complimentary working relationships of drug and alcohol treatment and law enforcement. Additionally, Congressman Cummings asked Director Walters about crack-cocaine sentencing disparities, and Director Walters stated that the Administration was reviewing the issue and would be delivering a recommendation in conjunction with the United States Sentencing Commission within the next several weeks.
AOD Workgroup Discusses Methadone Treatment in Alternative Settings
At a recent meeting of the Alcohol and Other Drug Workgroup of the NYC HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council, it was noted that less than 25% of the active opiate drug users in New York State are in treatment at any given time, and discussion centered around the proposal to dispense methadone in doctor’s office. In spite of the liberalized regulations, however, implementation has been slow and restrictions preventing access remain in spite of methadone treatment being a fairly effective form of HIV prevention. There was also discussion regarding Buprenorphine, which is expected to be approved shortly by the FDA for use in treating opioid addiction. Members reported that it is in use in France with good results and once it is approved for use in the US it will be primarily available from through regular primary care physicians, which will expand treatment availability for opioid users. AOD Workgroup members expressed concern that while the federal regulations regarding methadone changed significantly almost a year ago, the State of New York has not yet changed their regulations. The workgroup discussed asking the Policy Committee to write a letter in support of adopting the more lenient federal regulations allowing alternative treatments and treatment settings.
The workgroup also discussed updating templates which guide decisions for allocating Ryan White funds to NYC providers. Existing templates strongly support harm reduction activities and recognize the problems faced by HIV+ drug users trying to access needed care and services. The current emphasis is upon solving the problem of access, making providers more user friendly and lowering thresholds. However, the templates do not address the lack of respect drug users typically face in accessing health care and the role the consumer plays in the process, subjects that will likely be addressed in the pending revision. The Alcohol and Other Drug Workgroup can be contacted by calling Robert Busan at 212-788-2755.
NIAAA Launch Awareness Campaign: "Alcohol and Pregnancy Don't Mix"
Press Release, Bethesda Maryland, March 5, 2002
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism <http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/> and the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome <http://www.nofas.org/>
today launch a campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with
drinking during pregnancy, the leading known preventable cause of birth
defects and learning difficulties. "Play it safe. Alcohol and pregnancy
don't ix." begins as a 2-year pilot program that targets Washington,
D.C., African-American women of childbearing age and their families,
friends, and others through mass media messages, special events, and
community partnership activities. "Once NIAAA has assessed the success
of this prototype, we hope to launch similar campaigns in other target
groups and other cities across the country," said NIAAA Acting Director
Raynard S. Kington, M.D..
Scientists coined the term "fetal alcohol syndrome" (FAS) nearly 30
years ago to describe a pattern of birth defects found in the children
of mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy. Subsequent research has
shown that children who do not have the full syndrome also can be
affected by a mother's drinking; terms such as "fetal alcohol effects"
(FAE) are used to describe these children. Children affected by
maternal drinking during pregnancy show slower growth patterns and
brain damage evidenced by intellectual difficulties or behavioral
problems. According to recent estimates, as many as 40,000 U.S. infants
each year may be born with some degree of FAE. Lifetime health care
costs for a single child with FAS who was born in 2000 were estimated
at $588,000.
Whereas researchers have advanced steadily toward understanding the
mechanisms of fetal damage, the minimum amount of alcohol required to
produce damage remains unknown. Research has shown that even low levels
of drinking can cause some deficits, such as in information-processing
by infants. Further, the risk of harming a baby due to drinking varies
from one woman to another, possibly due to differences in genetic and
environmental factors and the drinker's age, nutritional status, and
co-occurring diseases. Public health advice consistently has urged
pregnant women and those planning pregnancy altogether to avoid alcohol.
Despite attempts to increase public awareness of related risks,
increasing numbers of women today are drinking during pregnancy. "We
know from epidemiologic evidence that African-Americans appear to be at
increased risk for FAS," according to Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D.,
Director of NIAAA's Office of Scientific Affairs. "Our D.C. campaign
will employ "selective" intervention, one of several strategies
recommended in a recent NIAAA-commissioned Institute of Medicine
Report, to reach a group at special risk."
In addition to its major "Play it safe. Alcohol and pregnancy don't
mix." message, the campaign will disseminate the information that
Remaining alcohol-free is essential to a healthy pregnancy.
Social activities can still be part of a healthy pregnancy -- if they are alcohol-free. Effects of drinking during pregnancy do not go away. A pregnant woman who decides to drink can affect her child's and her own future. Different women are affected differently by drinking during pregnancy. Total abstention from alcohol is the only safe choice. All types of alcohol -- beer, wine, and spirits -- are potentially dangerous for pregnant women.
The messages will appear in radio, television, D.C. transit advertising, magazines, newspapers, and cinema advertising until 2004. For more information, contact the NIAAA Press Office at (301) 443-0595.
New Help For Relatives Raising Children of Substance Abusers
Children of Alcoholics Foundation Introduces "The Ties That Bind"
New York, 3/20/2002 - The Children of Alcoholics Foundation (COAF) announced today that it will introduce "The Ties That Bind," a new national education and support program to help the millions of Americans who are caring for relatives' children because of parental alcohol and drug abuse.
"Today, more and more relatives are stepping in when parents' drug or alcohol use has left them unable to care for their own children," said Kiki Samuels, Kinship Care Project Director. "Whether the addicted parent has died, gone into treatment, been arrested, or lost custody of the child, grandparents and other relatives are faced with a profound lack of information and services that can help the whole family deal with their new and unexpected living situation."
"The Ties That Bind" program comes at a time when the number of grandparent-headed households has soared. The number of grandparents raising grandchildren increased by 30% in the past decade, with 6% of U.S. children under 18 (3.9 million) now living in grandparent-headed households, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Though kinship care has always existed,
substance abuse is now the leading cause.
"The stigma that exists around drug abuse is enormous. As a result, many caregivers do not tell their friends, neighbors, or even the agencies that can help them. This means that many of these families remain unidentified and lack vital services," Samuels said.
"The Ties That Bind" offers fact sheets, a comprehensive handbook, and a website (www.coaf.org). In addition, COAF provides training to professionals working with kinship care families, such as government agencies, social workers, child-welfare workers, and support-group leaders. These training sessions are designed to educate professionals about the special issues involved in kinship care that directly result from parental substance abuse, as well as tips and strategies for getting the materials into the hands of those in need.
Individuals who are interested in a free handbook may e-mail Samuels at samuels@phoenixhouse.org <mailto:ksamuels@phoenixhouse.org> or call at 212-595-5810 ext. 7763 (limited number available). Individuals interested in receiving a free fact sheet should send a self-addressed envelope to: Kiki Samuels, Children of Alcoholics Foundation, 164 West 74th Street, NY, NY 10023.
ARE YOU HIPPA READY?
The following information was compiled and posted by CSAT on their web site and is intended to provide some basic information concerning compliance with the new HIPPA regulations governing medical records and the sharing of medical information. These regulations apply to all health care organizations but please note that they do not replace the Federal Confidentiality Guidelines (Part 42 CFR Part 2) that govern drug treatment.
What Does the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Mean for You?
Goals of HIPPA
To improve administrative efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system
To ensure the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information
To restore the public trust
Who is covered?
Covered entities include:
Health plans
Health care clearinghouses
Health care providers who transmit health information in electronic form in connection with
one of eight transactions covered by the regulation (see list below)
Government agencies are:
Covered if they are explicitly identified in the regulation, or if they function as a health plan
or a provider
Not covered if they have as their principal activity the direct provision of grants that fund the
direct provision of health care (i.e., block grants)
What is covered?
Individually identifiable health information includes demographic information from an individual that is:
Created or received by a health care provider, health plan, employer, or health care
clearinghouse
Related to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an
individual; the provision of health care to an individual; or the past, present, or
future payment for the provision of health care to an individual, and;
Identifies the individual directly, and/or there is a reasonable basis to believe that the
information can be used to identify the individual
Deadlines
Electronic Transaction Standards: October 16, 2002; small plans 2003
Privacy Standards: April 14, 2003; small plans 2004
Unique Identifiers and Security Standards (proposed): comment period closed, no
effective dates
Code Sets
Requires national uniform codes for diagnosis, treatment, medication, dental services,
medical supplies
Local procedure codes are being eliminated
Electronic Transactions
Electronic transmission of health care information is required to be in standardized format for these eight transactions:
Health care claims or equivalent encounter information
Eligibility for a health plan
Referral certification and authorization
Health care claim status
Enrollment and disenrollment in a health plan
Health care payment and remittance advice
Health plan premium payments
Coordination of benefits
Privacy
Expands patient rights and protections on the use of consents and authorizations;
access to, and modification of, information in the patient's medical record;
notifications of privacy rights; and accounting of disclosures and authorizations
Sets a standard for disclosing only the minimum amount necessary
Permits research without patient consent if the covered entity obtains approval
from an Institutional Review Board or privacy board if the information is used for
preparation for research and is not removed from the premises
Permits auditing and oversight activity without patient consent
Requires organizations to identify an internal Privacy Officer to:
Conduct a privacy assessment
Create policies to protect privacy
Train staff
Establish a grievance process
Provides civil and Federal penalties for violations of standards
Does not supercede 42CFR Part 2; both rules apply
Does not pre-empt more stringent state laws, with some exceptions
Unique Identifiers (proposed)
Uniform, lifetime identifiers for:
Employers (will use the IRS tax identification number)
Providers (assigned by Medicare National Provider System)
Health plans (to be determined)
Security and Electronic Signatures (proposed)
Addresses physical and technical security requirements necessary to guard the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of electronic individual health information that is stored, maintained, or transmitted
Changes can be scaled to the size of the organization
Organizations must identify a Security Officer to:
Conduct assessments of physical and electronic security of confidential
information
Create policies to protect physical and electronic security
Train staff
CONFERENCE AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
International Conference on Pain & Chemical Dependency
June 6-8, 2002 at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers in New York City
The primary goal of this 2½ day conference is to create a broader understanding of the interface between pain management and chemical dependency. Using a variety of presentation formats, a world-renowned faculty will present research focusing on the following topics:
• Current barriers in the use of opioid drugs to treat pain
• Effective pain management in patients with psychiatric comorbidities, in patients that are
chemically dependent, methadone-maintained, or AIDS/HIV positive, in minority
populations and in impaired professionals
• Improving the treatment of pain through a better understanding of the pharmacology of
opioids and their use in treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain
• Legal, regulatory, ethical, and organizational issues relative to the under treatment of pain.
CME Accreditation through Beth Israel Medical Center and St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital for up to 18 hours of Category 1 CME credit toward the Physicians' Recognition Award of the American Medical Association. Certificates for the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC) program will be issued to participants after evaluation forms are submitted at the end of the conference.
Registration can be done online at http://www.painandchemicaldependency.org. The deadline is May 28, 2002. For more information, e-mail conference organizers: info@painandchemicaldependency.org.
New England School for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
July 7 to 11, 2002 at Salve Regina University, Newport, RI
Sponsored by the New England Institute of Addiction Studies, RI Dept. of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals, the Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England, the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, SAMHSA and others. This institute has been specially designed for clinicians, administrators and health care professionals who work in opioid treatment facilities. Feature presentations and intensive seminars on important topics including: evidence based medical practice, clinical best practices, treating special populations, quality improvement practices, and accreditation preparation.
For information or to be placed on the mailing list for the 2002 program, contact the New England Institute of Addiction Studies at neias@neias.org or 207-621-2549.
ABOUT COMPA
The Committee of Methadone Program Administrators of New York State is a not-for-profit coalition representing New York State’s methadone treatment system which serves over 46,000 individuals suffering from opioid addiction and other substance abuse disorders.
Opioid addiction is a chronic, relapsing medical disorder, with serious consequences related to public health and safety. Methadone treatment has proven to be the most effective means of treating this disorder.
COMPA’s mission is to further the treatment of opioid addiction and other substance abuse disorders in order to address the medical, social and psychological consequences of use, prevent the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases, reduce criminal behavior, promote employment and self-sufficiency, and support the return to a healthy and productive lifestyle.
In order to support this mission, COMPA and its member organizations are committed to the promotion and expansion of methadone treatment through education of elected officials, providers, consumers, and the public at large. COMPA advocates for expanded models of service delivery, co-located services and consumer empowerment to provide increased access to treatment. COMPA supports enhanced services, a comprehensive continuum of care, the provision of high quality treatment and ongoing professional staff development. COMPA encourages the involvement of membership in the development of public policy, standards of care, and regulatory oversight.
COMPA Board of Directors
Peter Coleman, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation, President
Ira Marion, AECOM-Montefiore, Vice President
Johanne Morne, Whitney Young MMTP, Secretary
Herbert Barish, Lower Eastside Service Center
Willard Campbell, Suffolk County Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services
Addie Corradi, Beth Israel Hospital
Otto C. Feliu, Crouse Hospital
Robert Krauss, Long Beach Hospital MMTP
Robert Sage, A.R.T.C.
Derrick Spencer, Concourse Medical Center
Lolita Silva-Vazquez, Greenwich House MTP
COMPA Executive Director
Henry Bartlett
COMPA has established this newsletter to ensure that New York State providers of opioid treatment services have an effective mechanism of communication which facilitates the dissemination of information, encourages dialogue and the adaptation of best practices, promotes staff development and retention, and assists in the effort to reduce stigma. The COMPA Bulletin includes information regarding best practices, research, demonstration projects, accreditation, training opportunities, conferences, and other items of interest to the field and will be distributed via email on a monthly basis.
COMPA encourages readers to submit news, articles, research, and other items of interest for possible inclusion. Submissions should be titled "COMPA Bulletin Submission" and directed to info@compa-ny.org.
Want to receive the COMPA Bulletin directly? Send your email address to us and we will be happy to add your name to our list. Addresses should be titled "Subscription List" and directed to info@compa-ny.org.
Past issues of the COMPA Bulletin are available on our web site www.compa-ny.com.
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