Former Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey: “Methadone Maintenance Treatment Helps”
Former Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey spoke out recently in favor of methadone treatment, stepping squarely into and on the right side of a debate in the state of West Virginia over availability of methadone maintenance—a debate in which the current drug czar, John Walters, has been conspicuously absent
Gen. McCaffrey wrote in the Sunday Gazette-Mail on Jan. 28, 2007 ("Methadone Saves Lives, Restores Productivity"):
“I am concerned that the recent rash of negative publicity and political commentary on methadone treatment might lead to unwise changes to treatment regulations that are not consistent with science. Changes that are not consistent with evidenced-based clinical protocols will adversely affect treatment outcomes and therefore negatively impact West Virginia communities and families. I have fought for greater public awareness of the benefits of science-based drug treatment from the time that I served as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy ( 1996-2001 ) to the present. This issue is so crucial that I wanted to express my concern directly. Science-based methadone maintenance treatment helps those addicted to opiates sustain their recovery. The result is less crime, fewer emergency room admissions, more citizens working, and less suffering for families and the community. More individuals contribute in taxes instead of costing in health or imprisonment.”
Gen. McCaffrey did note that he now has an economic involvement in methadone treatment. According to Gen. McCaffrey, “I am a member of the Board of Directors of CRC Health Group, Inc.—as well as someone who is proud to have spent a significant amount of my professional life supporting effective drug and alcohol treatment.” He noted that “CRC Health Group provides nationwide treatment services for science-based substance abuse and behavioral health disorders. We also own and operate a number of opiate treatment clinics in West Virginia. We are very proud to be the largest drug and alcohol treatment provider in the nation. CRC is dedicated to providing the absolute highest quality care to our patients. We focus on achieving the lowest possible relapse rates. We focus on outcome-based evidence of treatment effectiveness for opiate addiction.”
Gen. McCaffrey wrote that “According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes Study, ‘Methadone treatment reduced patients’ heroin abuse by 70 percent, their criminal activity by 57 percent and increased their full-time employment by 24 percent.’ Treatment has major economical benefits as well. The National Institute of Drug Abuse has concluded, ‘Every $1 invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs and theft alone. When savings related to health care are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1.’ CRC’s and my goal is to assist state health departments and state methadone authorities to improve the quality and effectiveness of substance abuse services. Of CRC patients, 93.7 percent report that their problems are ‘somewhat’ or ‘a great deal’ better because of treatment.”
