NY methadone clinics fight for anti‐stigma opioid settlement funds

The Coalition of Medication Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates (COMPA) is advocating to get opioid settlement funds for use in an anti‐stigma campaign for methadone treatment. In general, substance use disorder (SUD) is stigmatized, but so is treatment for it. But methadone treatment in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) is more stigmatized than any other, said Allegra Schorr, president of COMPA, in a July 22 statement advocating for the support of proposed legislation which would cover such a campaign. Not‐in‐my‐back‐yard (NIMBY) has prevented OTPs from opening – and in some cases even closures are threatened.