New Ideal Option Report Confirms Widespread Meth Use in Montana
State data show 117% increase in methamphetamine-involved deaths from 2019-2020.
BILLINGS, Mont., Nov. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioids, alcohol, methamphetamine and other substances, opened its first Montana clinics in Billings and Missoula on March 1, 2016. Today, Ideal Option operates eight clinics in eight counties throughout Montana and has treated nearly 8,000 state residents with substance use disorder (SUD).
Due to the severe economic and emotional hardships imposed by the pandemic, substance use and overdose deaths have skyrocketed nationally, and Montana is no exception. According to the 2020 Annual Report from the Montana Department of Justice Forensic Science Division, there was a 117% increase in methamphetamine-related deaths from 2019 to 2020.
Yellowstone County accounted for 22% of all overdose deaths in 2020, the highest percentage in the state, followed by Cascade County (10%), Missoula County (9%) and Flathead County (9%), according to the 2020 Annual Report from the Montana State Medical Examiner's Office.
In 2020, Ideal Option released its Annual Patient Outcomes Report derived from lab data collected from more than 2,100 Montana State Medicaid patients. The report confirms the increasingly widespread use of methamphetamine use in Montana with an average of 48% of newly enrolled patients testing positive for methamphetamine during 2020. In 2021, this trend has continued with about 50% of patients consistently testing positive for methamphetamine at enrollment.
"The good news is that although about half of all new patients seeking help with substance use disorder test positive for methamphetamine, many successfully progress to the maintenance stage of treatment during which positive test rates decline to 7% or less," stated Tim Kilgallon, CEO of Ideal Option. "We are experienced with the intricacies of treating polysubstance use disorder, including methamphetamine, and we are prepared to continue serving the state of Montana to restore families and communities, especially in those counties that are struggling."
Ideal Option has 8 clinics in Montana, located in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Cut Bank, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula.
With no waitlists and most forms of insurance accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid, patients can typically get started on treatment for methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, alcohol or other substances within 1-3 business days.
Patients can make an appointment by calling 1.877.522.1275 or visiting http://www.idealoption.com.
About Ideal Option
Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped nearly 50,000 patients through a network of over 70 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 10 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts all forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.
Ideal Option's team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.
In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.
Media Contact
Olivia Easly, Ideal Option, +1 (919) 946-6644, [email protected]
SOURCE Ideal Option
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