National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery - NAMA Recovery

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery - NAMA Recovery Dear Advocates:

Since its beginning over 50 years ago methadone maintenance has been the most effective treatment for narcotic addiction.

NAMA Recovery is an organization of methadone and buprenorphine patients, healthcare professionals, friends, and associates working together for greater public understanding and acceptance of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Evaluations worldwide over the past five decades have shown that methadone maintenance is the most successful treatment for opiate addiction, resulting in the termination both of opiate drug use and of criminal behavior. In spite of its success, methadone maintenance is often dispged as a "substitute drug" by those who ignore the positive benefits that it has clearly brought to society. Such attitudes negatively impact on methadone treatment in a variety of ways, but it is the methadone patients themselves who are particularly stigmatized and harmed. Patients are mistreated and misinformed and considered as social outcasts. They are victims of discrimination in health care, the job market, education, insurance and housing. Even treatment professionals are often ashamed to admit that they work in this field. This atmosphere will not change as long as there is no organization or formal mechanism for methadone patients to voice their own needs and to form a strong, unified public presence on their behalf. The idea of a methadone advocacy organization was conceived in the Fall of 1988 when a group of current and former methadone patients and professionals in the field began meeting to discuss the possibility of forming one. The name, National Alliance for Methadone Advocates (NAMA) was chosen and the many issues that NAMA could address were discussed by the group. There was a tremendous amount of work ahead for the organization to reverse the years of stigma and misinformation about methadone maintenance treatment. On April 26, 2009 at the AATOD Conference (American Association for the Treatment of Opiate Dependence) held in New York the Board of Directors announced an important change to NAMAs identity it would now be doing business as the National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery (see Press Release). (pdf format)

Today NAMA-R has grown to over approximately 15,000 members representing the 50 states, Puerto Rico and 12 countries. NAMA-R is proud to have inspired the formation of other affiliated advocacy groups throughout the world. Currently over twenty affiliated groups exist in the United States as well as several in Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy, Norway and Sweden. In 2004 NAMA-R created the Medication Assisted Treatment Advocate Training to train and certify patients and professionals to advocate for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). NAMA-R followed this with the development of the MARS Project in 2006 that provides peer recovery support services to persons receiving MAT. There are seventeen MARS Projects operating in the US and four in Vietnam. A methadone and buprenorphine advocacy organization can work on many levels to bring about changes. The primary objective of NAMA-R is to advocate for the patient in treatment by destigmatizing and empowering MAT patients. First and foremost, it can confront the negative stereotypes that impact on the self esteem and worth of MAT patients with a powerful affirmation of pride and unity. NAMA-R works to correct the misconceptions about methadone and buprenorphine treatment and overcome the prejudice directed against patients and medications to treat opiate addiction. NAMA-R strives to educate communities and policy makers about the benefits of MAT and responds to the negative and sensationalized media, supports the growth of local advocacy groups, advocates for treatment on demand and provides a platform whereby methadone and buprenorphine patients can express their concerns about their quality of life. Today, many medication assisted treatment patients feel ashamed of the very treatment that has helped them. They feel alone, no longer "dope fiends" but still not a part of society, and with nowhere to turn for support. This situation is hardly conducive to rehabilitation. Yet the majority of MAT patients have proven themselves capable and successful in the practical world, as lawyers and waitresses, construction workers and housewives, teachers and cab drivers. NAMA-R's Goals are:

1) To eliminate discrimination toward methadone and buprenorphine patients.
2)To create a more positive image about methadone and buprenorphine treatment.
3) To help preserve patient's dignity and their rights.
4) To make treatment available on demand to every person who needs it.
5) To empower methadone and buprenorphine patients with a strong public voice. Please complete the Membership Form and return it. The annual membership fee is only $25. This includes a subscription to The NAMA-R Advocate the official publication of NAMA. And if you can afford it, won't you consider including a donation to help compensate the cost of those who cannot pay for their membership. NAMA-R does not receive the support that other advocacy organizations enjoy, primarily because of the stigma and prejudice towards this treatment and those who receive it. We are sure that you can appreciate this and realize the difficulty NAMA-R has encountered in maintaining support for our activities. We, therefore must depend on you. NAMA-R works on a national level and at the local level by assisting our existing chapters and promoting the organization of new groups. These are all important indications that methadone treatment will be changing. When NAMA-R was started back in 1988 the views of patients were not represented at any level. NAMA-R was the catalyst to make these changes occur. We are therefore at the beginning of an exciting new era of methadone treatment where the patient's voice is heard, but we need your continued support to be there for you. Help us to continue the struggle to end the discrimination and stigma directed towards methadone patients and to work for the day when people are judged not by the medication they take, but by the contributions they make to their family, community and society. You can become more involved with NAMA-R by filling out this form: http://www.methadone.org/advocate-list.html

Together, we can make a difference!

01/31/2025

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE RICHARD LANE/ROBERT HOLDEN PATIENT ADVOCACY AWARD 2025

Richard Lane was a long-term he**in user who, upon release from prison in 1967, was instrumental in establishing one of the Nation’s first opioid treatment programs. In 1974, he became the Executive Director of Man Alive and later served as Vice President of the American Methadone Treatment Association (now AATOD) and as Vice Chair of the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland. Mr. Lane was a passionate advocate for methadone treatment (the only medication for opioid use disorder available at the time) and, by disclosing his own treatment experiences, provided inspiration to patients and colleagues alike.

Robert Holden was also a recovering he**in user, who later became the Director of PIDARC, an outpatient opioid treatment program in the District of Columbia. He was a friend of Richard Lane and succeeded Richard Lane’s term of office as the Vice President of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD). This award was established in 1995 and recognizes extraordinary achievements in medication assisted treatment (MAT) patient advocacy.

The following criteria should be applied in making your selection:

Only one (1) nominee can be submitted by NAMA Recovery to the Conference Awards Committee. There may be several nominees, however only one (1) “consensus” nominee may receive this honor.

The nominee must have been involved in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) advocacy for five (5) years.

The nominee must have made meaningful and consistent contributions, which have had a significant impact on opioid treatment within a state or region of the United States.

For each nominee, a Nomination Form must be completed and submitted with two (2) Letters of Support.

NAMA Recovery will be responsible for collecting all the submissions for nomination and selecting a committee of advocates that will decide on the final candidate. The Candidate’s Name, Nomination Form and at least two (2) Letters of Support describing the nominee’s achievements will be submitted to the AATOD Conference Awards Committee for final approval.

The deadline for submissions is Friday February 28, 2025, at 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time.

The Nomination Form should be completed online. https://forms.gle/Lxjzk9DRnvgkksy17

Two (2) or more Letters of Support should be sent via email to NAMARecoveryPresident@gmail.com

Previous Winners of the Award:

Richard Lane, 1995, Arizona
Joycelyn Woods, 2001, St. Louis
Anthony Scro, 2007, San Diego
Walter Ginter, 2009, New York
Lisa Mojer Torres, 2010, Chicago
Roxanne Baker, 2012, Las Vegas
Ira Marion, 2013, Philadelphia
Claude Hopkins, 2015, Atlanta
Brenda Davis, 2016, Baltimore
Paul Bowman, 2017 New York
Zachary Talbott, 2019 Orlando
Jana Burson, 2021 Las Vegas
Sara Gefvert, 2023 Baltimore
Anita R Kennedy, 2024 Las Vegas

This Award will be bestowed upon the recipient during the Awards Ceremony Dinner during the National AATOD Conference which will convene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October.

From the May 27, 2024 issue of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly (ADAW): “We are not head of cattle. No one treatment sys...
06/18/2024

From the May 27, 2024 issue of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly (ADAW):
“We are not head of cattle. No one treatment system or type of program owns us.”
-Anita Kennedy upon accepting the 2024 Richard Lane & Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Award from AATOD

Congratulations to Anita Kennedy, the 2024 Recipient of AATOD’s Richard Lane & Robert Holden Advocacy Award!
05/22/2024

Congratulations to Anita Kennedy, the 2024 Recipient of AATOD’s Richard Lane & Robert Holden Advocacy Award!

Non-medication-based treatments for opioid use disorder may be more harmful than no treatment at all, a new Yale study f...
12/27/2023

Non-medication-based treatments for opioid use disorder may be more harmful than no treatment at all, a new Yale study finds.

“The ability of an American teenager to find illicit drugs is as simple as opening a social media app.”
12/05/2023

“The ability of an American teenager to find illicit drugs is as simple as opening a social media app.”

Fentanyl and other synthetic drugs are manufactured outside of the United States, and brought across our borders by a variety of means.

About one-third of Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder (OUD) in 2021 did not receive treatment that included one...
10/04/2023

About one-third of Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder (OUD) in 2021 did not receive treatment that included one of the 3 FDA-approved medications for OUD.

About one-third of Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder in 2021 did not receive treatment, and certain demographic groups were disproportionately impacted, according to a recent HHS report. Medication Treatments News

DEA Explains MATE Act Training Requirements for ALL Prescribers with a DEA Registration
07/11/2023

DEA Explains MATE Act Training Requirements for ALL Prescribers with a DEA Registration

As Congressionally-mandated, medical practitioners have a new role to help patients fighting to sustain recovery and prevent opioid overdoses. All medial reg...

Could loosening restrictions around prescribing improve treatment for patients with substance use disorder?
05/19/2023

Could loosening restrictions around prescribing improve treatment for patients with substance use disorder?

Su***de prevention in traumatic brain injury survivors also on the docket during hearing

“NAMA Recovery appreciates Senators Markey and Paul and Representatives Norcross and Bacon for prioritizing the diverse ...
03/08/2023

“NAMA Recovery appreciates Senators Markey and Paul and Representatives Norcross and Bacon for prioritizing the diverse experiences and perspectives of patients who take methadone for opioid use disorder (OUD) in their legislation. Patients deserve options beyond an opioid treatment program (OTP). We must streamline access to methadone, without compromising patient safety, especially in areas where OTPs do not exist. The intent of the M-OTAA is consistent with NAMA Recovery’s long-held position that all patients with OUD deserve access to knowledgeable clinicians. Under the M-OTAA, only OTP clinicians and/or physicians who are board certified in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry would have authority to prescribe methadone for OUD, and we trust that SAMHSA and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will consider all nuances carefully in rulemaking or other guidance that would follow the M-OTAA’s enactment.”

PRESS RELEASE: https://namarecovery.org/asam-and-nama-recovery-applaud-introduction-of-m-otaa/

The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would expand access to methadone for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Public Comments on the Proposed Revised Federal Rules for Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs), and thus regulatory methadon...
02/13/2023

Public Comments on the Proposed Revised Federal Rules for Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs), and thus regulatory methadone reform, are due by 11:59pm Eastern on Tuesday, 02/14/23!

COMMENTING GUIDE: https://namarecovery.org/public-comments-on-new-methadone-regulations/

NAMA Recovery provides a commenting guide and calls on stakeholders to file comments in the federal register on proposed revisions to methadone regulations.

Patient privacy rights pertaining to substance use disorder ( ) information help open the door to life-saving addiction ...
02/01/2023

Patient privacy rights pertaining to substance use disorder ( ) information help open the door to life-saving addiction treatment, helping to promote trust and better outcomes. Don’t believe the hype that insurance companies know better than patients about who needs access to their private health information! Learn why SUD is such a crucial issue in NAMA Recovery's public comments to HHS on proposed revisions to SUD protections here:
https://namarecovery.org/public-comments-on-confidentiality-proposed-rule/

Aligning 42 CFR Part 2 (the federal regulations governing SUD treatment records) with HIPAA will not only discourage people from entering life-saving addiction treatment, but it will also put patients at risk of arrest, prosecution, incarceration, and discrimination based on their past substance use...

SAMHSA Applauds Expansion of Access to MOUD
01/19/2023

SAMHSA Applauds Expansion of Access to MOUD

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) applauds provisions included in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 117-328) that will significantly expand access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The act, signed into law by President Biden on Dec. 29, 2...

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NAMA Recovery

Founded in 1988 by #methadone patients and healthcare professionals who are supporters of quality #opioid maintenance treatment, NAMA Recovery has thousands of members worldwide with a network of international affiliated organizations and chapters in many places in the United States.

The primary objective of NAMA Recovery is to advocate for methadone and buprenorphine services recipients by destigmatizing and empowering individuals who are methadone and buprenorphine service recipients. First and foremost, NAMA Recovery confronts the negative stereotypes that impact on the self esteem and worth of many methadone and buprenorphine services recipients with a powerful affirmation of pride and unity.

The five (5) Goals of NAMA Recovery:


  • To eliminate discrimination towards methadone and buprenorphine patients