Patient Support and Community Education Project
From SAMHSA Website

Project Goal
In September 2000, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment brought together the leading national patient support and education organizations for a 2 day meeting to discuss the escalation of opioid dependency and the stigma associated with its related medication-assisted treatments. Through this effort, the Methadone Patient Support and Community Methadone Education Project was formed. The goal of the Project is to address the need for patient support and family education regarding the disease of opioid addiction and the highly effective medication-assisted treatments like methadone and buprenorphine.

Mission Statement
To remove the stigma from opioid agonist medication-assisted treatments like methadone and buprenorphine, so that treatment for the disease of addiction can be a life saving choice, not a life long sentence.

Project Partners
Opiate Dependence Resource Center (ODRC)
http://www.methadone.net
Addiction Treatment Watchdog (ATW)
http://www.atwatchdog.org
Advocates For the Integration of Recovery and Methadone (AFIRM) http://www.afirmfwc.org
Advocates for Recovery through Medicine (ARM)
http://hometown.aol.com/armmat/index.html
National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA) http://www.methadone.org
Virginia Alliance of Methadone Advocates (VAMA) http://www.vamethadvocates.org
Washington Alliance for Methadone Maintenance (WAMM)