How to Practice with the New Methadone Regulations

This webinar will offer a practical, clinically focused review of methadone treatment in Opioid Treatment Programs. Participants will learn key pharmacology concepts, admission requirements, dosing strategies, take-home regulations, and the 72-hour rule.  The webinar will also highlight best practices for treating special populations, including pregnant patients and those with co-occurring substance use disorders.  

Dr. Lakai Banks-Dean a member of the CSAM Education Committee is the Planner for this webinar

Our faculty for the webinar includes Dr. Chuck Salka and Ashley Smith.  

Chuck Salka MD, is board certified in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Addiction Medicine and has been practicing since 1991. He has worked in opioid treatment programs since 2021, drawn to addiction medicine through years of treating the infectious complications of drug use. 

Ashley Smith, PA-C, is a physician assistant who earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Point Loma Nazarene University. Since graduating, she has worked in the Addiction Medicine field. For the past 2 years, she has worked in an opioid treatment program (OTP) that also provides urgent care, psychiatric care, and limited primary care services to patients in El Cajon, CA. She is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to every patient she sees while navigating federal and state OTP regulations. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Apply methadone pharmacology in the context of federal and California criteria to individualize dosing strategies.
2. Determine eligibility for admission, take-home doses, and the 72-hour rule.
3. Formulate treatment strategies for patients on methadone maintenance that are pregnant, or have co-occurring alcohol, sedative-hypnotic, or stimulant use disorders.