Rollout of Vermont Mobile Methadone Clinics Postponed August 2, 2004
News Summary
Vermont officials said the two mobile methadone clinics planned for the St. Johnsbury and Newport areas will not be ready for the targeted Oct. 1 opening date, the Caledonian Record reported July 29.Barbara Cimaglio, director of alcohol and drug abuse programs for the Vermont Department of Health, said the mobile clinics must be approved through a state certificate-of-need process.
"We will do things as best as we can to move forward," Cimaglio said. "We would rather see this right than quick."
She said additional meetings and community feedback is necessary before the vans are put on the road to dispense methadone to individuals addicted to heroin. One issue of contention is whether the vans would indeed be mobile or parked in a fixed location.
California Detoxification Programs, Inc., of San Francisco won the contract to run the mobile clinic program, the first of its kind in Vermont.
In addition to pharmacotherapy treatment, including methadone and buprenorphine, the mobile clinics will offer addiction and mental-health counseling, primary medical care, perinatal addiction services and ancillary human services.
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