C5 - Engaging Patients Receiving Treatment With Methadone in Talk Therapy: A Lost Art or an Art Form

Presentation Summary: The opioid epidemic, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, has drastically altered the way opioid treatment programs provide care to patients. Today, we face the increasing demand for access to methadone medication, yet a significant decline in participation in talk therapy threatens the professionalization of our workforce. This pragmatic opposition challenges substance use disorder therapists' clinical skill development, impacts overall holistic care, pressurizes the financial bottom line, and redirects valuable therapist time from clinical work to administrative tasks. As a leadership group and in partnership with our clinical team and patients, we highlight data, the current state, and creative solutions.