![\"Addiction\"](\"http:\/\/www.drugalcoholrehabnow.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/addiction-2.jpg\")
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North Dakota has, for some time, needed a boost in the number of addiction treatment options open to patients. This has been a talking point for some time. However, new laws and rules for the addiction process are going to be coming into place to give service providers and patients greater options than they had beforehand.<\/p>\n
The 2019 Legislature has given full authorisation to medical units and\/or satellites of licensed opioid treatment programs for daily doses of medication. This will see licensed programs like Hartview Foundation, Bismarck, and Community Medical Services, Fargo, having greater options than beforehand.<\/p>\n
Having opened in 2017 and 2016 respectively, the two facilities are a major part of the medication-assisted treatment for those with dependency on opioids. So, this can only be good news for those who live in the North Dakota area. Experts believe that these medication units will ensure that patients can have closer, easier access to their medical professionals \u2013 especially in less urban areas.<\/p>\n
The 2019 Legislature also added extra money to help expand upon the already-growing Department of Human Services\u2019 substance use disorder system. This will add a new age of eligibility to the program, ensuring that people as young as 14 can get the help that they need. At present, the minimum age is 18. Laws have also been changed to expand the pool of voucher providers to make sure that local public health units and tribes can get the access that they need.<\/p>\n
These will take effect come the 1st<\/sup> April and should provide a boon for those who have been actively looking for extra assistance and treatment. There is a waiting period now to see when data for North Dakota drug overdose deaths will be made clear. The latest data is from 2017, where 68 drug overdose deaths had taken place.<\/p>\n These new additions and changes to the program should allow for extra community readiness to combat addiction and also support for those who lack the financial means. However, it\u2019s been made clear that there will be a need for partnerships to make this work, with Heartview saying they will need partners from clinics, agencies, and\/or the Indian Health Service.<\/p>\n With around 150 patients as part of their opioid treatment program, including some people who are incarcerated, there\u2019s the potential for growth and for more support to places such as Dickinson. The aim is to try and minimise travel times to and from appointments, especially for those who are used to long commutes for daily dosages and drug screening. The primary aim, though, is to simply save as many lives as is possible.<\/p>\n This is why such a service is vital in North Dakota. With the opportunity for those in need \u2013 many of whom are employed and already make long commutes to work \u2013 to get more help, this can only be a good thing in a part of the country where there really has been a greater sense of urgency in combatting drug overdose issues.<\/p>\nExtra support for those who are in need<\/h2>\n