Choosing an effective opioid treatment program is important, especially when anxiety, depression, trauma, or sleep issues complicate your situation. To pick the right program, ask if it treats your whole self, considering the body and mind together. A program that only addresses substance abuse misses the point. It’s like patching a wall crack while ignoring the pipe leak underneath. A directory of drug and alcohol rehab centers in Memphis is a practical starting point for seeing which local programs list medication-assisted treatment, co-occurring mental health care, and accreditation.
Directory listings help, but they’re just the beginning. You need to delve deeper to understand what a program actually delivers. How does it handle mental health care? Will it keep you supported throughout treatment and beyond? These questions help you find these crucial answers.
The Questions at a Glance
- Does the program offer all FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder?
- How will my mental health be assessed and treated?
- Who prescribes and coordinates my medications?
- How does the program address overdose risk?
- What happens after discharge?
- What is the program licensed as, and how is it paid for?
1. Does the Program Offer All FDA-Approved Medications for Opioid Use Disorder?
The FDA has approved three medicines to treat opioid use disorder:
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Naltrexone
Each medicine works differently in your body. Your doctor will help you pick the right one based on your medical history, personal needs, past treatment experiences, and what you prefer.
You can only get methadone through a certified opioid treatment program. If your local program isn’t certified, they’ll refer you elsewhere. Before you choose a program, ask these important questions:
- Do they give methadone on-site? Can I take naltrexone or buprenorphine instead?
- Will I need a prescription for these medications?
- Will they let me keep taking my other medications?
If you’re already taking buprenorphine or methadone, check whether your treatment center allows you to continue. Some centers require you to stop your medication before starting their program. Think carefully about this policy. Stopping medication can increase your chance of relapsing.
Anyone receiving active treatment deserves to understand why doctors suggest changing their medication. They should also know what other choices exist.
2. How Will My Mental Health Be Assessed and Treated?
A good program checks for mental health conditions when you start and keeps checking as withdrawal gets better. Opioid use and withdrawal can look a lot like depression or anxiety, so the first impression is not always the whole story. Some conditions, like PTSD or bipolar disorder, need special treatment that regular addiction counseling might not cover.
Ask who conducts the mental health assessment, what their qualifications are, and how the results shape your treatment plan. Integrated programs treat both conditions within the same care plan rather than sending you to separate providers who never speak to each other.
Ask if the program uses trauma-informed care. Many people with opioid use disorder have lived through trauma, and ignoring that can make treatment feel unsafe. A trauma-informed program will tell you what to expect, include you in decisions, and avoid anything that feels like punishment.
3. Who Prescribes and Coordinates My Medications?
People taking opioids or managing substance use disorder often need multiple medications at once. That makes coordination essential. Combining opioids or opioid use disorder medications with sedatives especially benzodiazepines is extremely risky. These combinations can dangerously slow your breathing. The FDA mandates clear warnings on these medications through ‘black box’ labels to alert you to this serious risk.
When you ask about your care, find out if:
- A psychiatrist or qualified medication specialist oversees your treatment.
- How often they review your medications.
- How your team handles common issues like sleep problems without adding new medication risks.
The better approach uses non-habit-forming solutions instead.
4. How Does the Program Address Overdose Risk?
Effective overdose prevention requires a comprehensive approach in every stage of care. After you stop using opioids, your body becomes more sensitive to the drug. Your tolerance drops. This means a dose you once took regularly can now be too much. The danger is greatest during the days and weeks right after you leave a treatment program.
Consider whether your program includes:
- Naloxone availability and instruction on how to use it?
- Fentanyl awareness education for you and your family members?
If your program doesn’t mention naloxone or explain how fentanyl impacts your local drug supply, request clarification. A good recovery program treats overdose prevention as routine care, not a sign of failure.
5. What Happens After Discharge?
Leaving treatment doesn’t mean support ends there. Any medications you start will need a prescriber to keep them going. Mental health symptoms need regular follow-up. Ask what the discharge plan covers, if your next appointments are set up before you leave, and who you can call if you need help in the first week.
Also ask if your family or other supports can be part of discharge planning, if you want them to be. When people know the plan and what warning signs to look for, they can help you more when things get tough again.
If the program cannot keep providing psychiatric care, make a plan for that early. You can find a psychiatrist licensed in Tennessee, either nearby or online, who can check your medications, watch your mood and sleep, and adjust your treatment as you recover.
For many people, telemedicine is a very convenient solution. The appointments happen virtually using secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms, and the patient can be seen from any private place, such as at home or a private room in an office, making seeing the psychiatrist much more convenient and less disruptive to your day. Reputable practices such as GABA Telepsychiatry offer a choice of Board-Certified Psychiatrists licensed in Tennessee, so the patient can choose which one they think will be the best fit.
6. What Is the Program Licensed As, and How Is It Paid For?
The majority of addiction treatment providers in Tennessee receive their license from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. A license shows that a program meets basic standards. However, it doesn’t guarantee quality. Being accredited by the Joint Commission or Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) means another third party has also verified the program. You must ask about both, license and accreditation, and see what services the license covers.
Regarding expenses, check what insurance plans the program accepts, if any, whether it accepts TennCare, etc. Find out the requirements for getting authorization before treatment and whether there are alternatives if the patient has no insurance (like sliding-scale fee or state-funded treatment slots). Ask for a written estimate of any costs you might have to pay before you start.
Local Resources in Memphis and Shelby County
The Shelby County Health Department’s overdose prevention program provides free harm reduction supplies, including naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and works with community partners to link people with substance misuse disorders to care. The department notes that naloxone will not harm someone who is not overdosing, so it is always best to use it if an overdose is suspected.
Shelby County Government’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program serves people who think they may have, or have had, an opioid addiction, whether or not they are insured. Check the county page for current contact and referral details before calling.
Asking these questions does not mean you are being difficult. It means you want a program that treats the whole person, not just one part of the problem. If you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, call 911. For a mental health or substance misuse crisis, call or text 988.
Sources
- RehabSeekers – Tennessee Rehab Centers: https://rehabseekers.com/locations/us/tennessee/
- Shelby County Health Department – Opioid Overdose Prevention: https://www.shelbytnhealth.com/377/Opioid-Overdose-Prevention
- Shelby County Government – Office of Justice Initiatives, Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program FAQ: https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/faq.aspx?TID=89
